U2 backs campaign to raise awareness of MS

Rock group U2 will this week support the first global awareness campaign to spotlight multiple sclerosis.
World MS Day, to be launched on Wednesday, will involve more than 160 events in 51 countries.
U2's contribution is their hit song Beautiful Day, which is providing the campaign soundtrack.

The aim is to highlight the plight of people with the disease, raise donations for patient charities and research funding, forge links between MS organisations, and urge action from politicians.

MS is an auto-immune disease in which nerves are attacked by the body's own defences.
The incurable illness affects around 85,000 people in the UK. It can cause symptoms ranging from mild tingling sensations and loss of balance to full blown paralysis. Up to 60% of sufferers will face long term disability.

Among the planned activities for the campaign is an attempt on Mount Everest by two American women with MS, Lori Schneider and Wendy Booker.
In Ireland, eight people will climb six mountains in 72 hours, while Roll for MS cycling and motorcycling events are being held in Belgium, Canada, France and Luxembourg.
Concerts will take place in Greece and Cyprus, and human chains formed in the Indian cities of Mumbai and Delhi.
The MS Society charity will also open its first office in Palestine.
The US National MS Society is rallying more than 850,000 individuals to press politicians to support affordable health care for sufferers.
U2's Beautiful Day will be featured on a global campaign film highlighting different aspects of MS.
One of the sports celebrities backing the campaign is Argentinian and Barcelona FC football star Lionel Messi.
Peer Baneke, chief executive of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) which is organising World MS Day, said: "No matter where they live, people with MS, their families, friends and the wider community, need to come together to help fight this disease and allow people in any country to discuss their MS openly."

Donations and more information:www.worldmsday.org/


source:www.theherald.co.uk