World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day takes place this Saturday (May 30) and the theme of this year's event is 'connections', MS Ireland has said.

MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system, which causes a gradual degeneration of the nerves. This results in a progressive deterioration in various functions controlled by the nervous system, such as vision, speech and movement.

Around 2.3 million people worldwide are affected, including 9,000 people in Ireland.

The aim of World MS Day is to raise awareness of the condition, which is the most common debilitating neurological condition affecting young adults in Ireland.

Using the theme ‘connections', the event also wants to challenge stigma and social barriers, and connect the 2.3 million people living with the condition worldwide.

"World MS Day is a day to celebrate global solidarity and hope for the future. The MS connections campaign is all about building a community connection.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is hitting the world and affecting our lives in an unprecedented way. Populations all over the world are locked down, health systems have become restrained and borders are closed as the economy begins its downward spiral into a global recession," commented MS Ireland CEO, Ava Battles.

She insisted that now, more than ever, connections are important and everybody needs to feel supported, valued and loved.

"Those who have good relationships are happier, healthier and live longer than those who report feeling lonely. Let's work together in May to ensure we build on our connections with each other," she said.

Niall McGahon (39) from Galway has been living with MS for five years and is the ambassador for this year's World MS Day.

He explained that he was diagnosed with MS in 2014, and it arrived "with all its baggage, invading every space in every room and taking up time in every family activity".

It impacts his work and is "part of my good days and very much ‘active' in my bad days".

"I have, over the past five-and-a-half years, as a form of my coping mechanism, allowed a lot of the changes, visible or invisible, to pass into my sub-consciousness and just become the norm. Has this been the right thing to do? I have said from the outset, as have many, that MS will not define me.

"World MS Day is such an important day for me and everyone who is living with MS as it shines a spotlight on our lives and the issues we may be facing. The connections theme this year is really poignant. As we stay apart from each other during this time, it makes us realise just how important that connection is with your community," Mr McGahon said.

World MS Day is usually held as a fundraiser as well, however, like many other charities and organisations, MS Ireland's fundraising has been badly impact by COVID-19.

In light of this, MS Ireland decided that this year's event should go off with a bang, virtually! There are over 9,000 people in Ireland living with MS and so it is launching a virtual balloon race campaign.

Using algorithms, live weather systems and Google maps, our virtual balloon racing platform allows balloons to behave, fly and burst just like real balloons. The balloons will be virtually launched from our Care Centre in Bushy Park in Dublin on May 30 at 12 noon.

Until then, people can purchase balloons for €5, with all funds raised going towards MS services. For more information on this, click here.

For more information on MS Ireland, click here.