Why can,t the ms society have a tv campaign to get more attention focused on ms.loads of other groups use it.the heart foundation ,cancer dementia so why can,t we have a tv campaign so people become more aware of this monster we all live with.perhaps if people were given more exposure to ms and everything that we have to deal with we might just get a better deal in life.
I think it’s probably the cost of the campaign that prevents it.
Theresa
The cost of these would be big and it has to be justifiable. Do you see an appeal for cancer and go I must donate. I don’t. I do if there is a natural disaster and after I had kids gave to a children charity. Like my mum gives to a charity to kids with serious brain thing as I was seriously ill when I was born. Luckily I was ok but lots aren’t so lucky My gran has started giving to ms since my diagnosis I I think it’s more a campaign educating people is required but it won’t happen. As it doesn’t ‘kill’ us. I struggle with the ms and the uncertainty. I prefer things being ‘quantifiable’ cancer u can look at the results and see what’s happening. I said that to someone and was told oh don’t speak about serious illness. Well I’m sorry it’s no better or worse than cancer in some respects. This disease slowly destroys you or sometimes it happens quickly. I think it’s great jack o has brought ms to the media attention but it is negative in that he can dance. I was 3rd in the world championship for dancing now I’d like to walk a mile. This time last year I was chasing my son 8 month pregnant never been ill in my life. And so much has changed. There does need to be more awareness. But then I think it true of doctors too ‘stress’ is such an easy diagnosis Sorry got off the trail. My little rant over though I know a lot might not agree with my opinions.
Exactly.
We are actually quite a small charity. We don’t attract the same donation levels as animal or cancer charities. We don’t have the ‘oh, look at the cute puppy’ appeal and with only [only!] 100,000 of us we are not so likely to get the recognition…everyone knows someone who has/had cancer of some sort.
Also with the hundreds of stations available now it would be a nightmare to decide where and when - ok - 1/2 way through East Enders…when most of the country gets up to put the kettle on…except me because I don’t watch it…I’m watching Time Team.
Liz
Sunday evenings a good time. Most people are home…work next day!! Worth thinking about.
I put the link for this website on my facebook page, hoping people would read up about ms.
For some reason I’ve always known about a MS and remember giving to MS charities, even as a teenager. I think I was struck by the fact that it was a young person’s disease and scared by it. Rather ironic then that I got it in my late 40’s! As someone recently diagnosed I have been surprised by the number of friends who knew nothing about it, as I already knew quite a few people with it.
I must admit I was wondering the same thing. I see an ad for the BHF or Cancer UK and always think to myself why doesn’t the MS Society do the same? With such a small budget the money is better spent on things like grants and research.
Surely an awareness campaign, would increase the budget, providing more money for research etc.
Yes we are all aware MS needs a higher profile and as said we are only a small charity; very small compared to cancer.
But why don’t we use celebrity’s we know are affected like Jack Osborne as a Patron or Ambassador? Free publicity.
G
I’m afraid that only fashionable charities can afford TV ads. MS will never be fashionable, because most people think - correctly - that they have very little chance of getting it. They worry - again, with reason - that they might well actually get cancer or dementia! That is one of the big differences, I think. Alison
Maybe it’s time we made it fashionable 
mmm, interesting question…
how could they represent all with ms cos its so variable? the folk still working and walking or the ones in chair unable to do much for themselves with carer helping? i agree with alot of responses already given.
ellie
The MS Society broadcast an appeal on Nov 17 and 20 2013. It was a BBC Lifeline appeal, which aims to raise awareness as well as funds. It was fronted by Jack Osborne and featured other MS Society members throughout the country. I hope some of you out there saw it? It isn’t available to view on the BBC website, any more, unfortunately.
Bouncy
Do we need a TV campaign - no, definitely not.
Do we need a “raise MS awareness” campaign - yes, for sure.
I see in the latest MS Advances (p 11) that one third of the society’s work is funded by bequests.
A few years back I chaired the local branch of the BHF, and bequests were the big thing then.
There was a view that tin-rattling outside a supermarket might bring in some cash, but did more good by raising awareness.
Many people would say that TV ads (even advertising in general) only help you do what you have already decided to do.
Activities that can get free publicity in the local press, or on local radio, and probably better than paid advertising of any sort.
The “Cake Bakes” should be backed up with stories about the Cake Bakes - what they are and what they are for.
What needs to be remembered is that the people who can leave a nice little legacy to the society are those people with money.
The BHF had that very firmly in mind.
These people are not the 20 and 30-somethings, but those who have paid off the mortgage, seen the kids married, and who have disposable incomes and fair-sized ISAs. I think that the Society got it wrong by neglecting the old Branch and Regional structure, in favour of Facebook and Twitter. The two should exist side by side - the one for the older members, and the other two for the younger ones.
Still, given that the Society cannot even get the “Near Me” section of the website accurate, why should we expect the approach to publicity to be any better.
Geoff
What about a documentary about the various types of ms. They have them for other diseases/conditions. people on here, may want to take part??
We do have MS Week which is always around about the first week of May. There are often items on national TV programmes during that week highlighting the campaign and there are some posters dotted about the country. I also copy the links to it on Facebook as there are usually some really good YouTube videos which help to explain some of the symptoms or last year’s which highlighted the postcode lottery with access to MS nurses and other services.
I also hold a Cake Break every year and leave some MS publications lying around so people can read up about it while they enjoy a slice of cake and a cuppa. Everyone’s heard of MS but few of them really understand what it is so anything that educates people can only be a good thing. I also try and talk to as many colleagues as possible so they understand how it affects me personally.
I agree with Geoff - my local branch raises a considerable amount by holding collections at local supermarkets and are always surprised at how many people stop for a chat with the collectors. It’s always a good time to raise awareness locally and I think that does as much good as a national campaign.
The danger with TV campaigns is that there sometimes seem to be so many that it is easier to channel hop during the adverts or go and make a cup of tea. When you are on a limited budget, the last thing you want is to be bombarded with more and more pleas for money every evening … very few of us can afford to give to every charity that asks.
Tracey xx
its about time we made our selves heard.of course we are a small charity with limited funds .so isn,t it about time we got out there and shouted what about us.we will never get any help if we just hide in the shadows of the bigger charities.cake bakes ,sponsored events are great but all these events are usually localised.its time we went national. .if its good enough for other charities then why can,t we.we need help too we need to educate the nation what better way then through a good media campaign .i,m all for getting ms in to the public domain.we are not just fighting for our selves we have our families and those still to come after us who get ms .
Some very valid points raised. Our Twitter (22K followers) and Facebook communities reach out to both the young AND older members & are a necessary/vital part of a general awareness campaign.
The branch and regional structure has in no way been neglected- occasionally, it’s a challenge to manage as older members struggle to find new recruits to their branch. But- that’s circumstance- not the fault of the MS Society or the branches. The volunteers who run the branches are the heart of the Society- and as someone who moderates the branch content; events, newsletters. blogs etc- i can assure you that aspect of the MSS is very much alive and thriving- some branches even have their own Facebook and Twitter accounts.
We were lucky to have Jack Osbourne front the appeal- and fortunate that it was screened on the BBC- you can only imagine how lengthy and time consuming the negotiations were to get that off the ground. Jack did a brilliant job.
There’s the difficulty of presenting MS in an ad campaign- do you show the hardships/struggle/pain and risk scaring the newly diagnosed/young? Are we going for awareness or sympathy? Uplifting or heartbreaking?
Then there’s the enormous costs. But mostly, the reasons why we shy from big campaigns is that when we survey our members and ask them what they want- they would far rather we spend millions on research or provinging support to people affected by MS.
That’s not to say there won’t be camapigns in the future- but just to let you know that the argument for and against can be quite nuanced.
Stewart (admin)
Hi Stewart,
Yes fully agree Jack is a brilliant gift but I do hope they offer him some recognition like Patronage or an Ambassador.
His http://www.youdontknowjackaboutms.com/ websites emphasis is on research. Why not put him in charge and be the main fundraiser for research. The other parts of the funds like tin ratelling and legacies could go on administration and helping PwMS?
G
i agree ad campaigns can be costly but surely a wider group of contributors to our cause is worth the risk.if we get more help the our usual money for research could be doubled even tripled surely its worth a try.we seem to be frighten of taking the risk in my mind its a risk well worth taking .i fed up of been forgotten about.