FAQs
It’s a festival bringing together young people with MS from across Europe. It’s two days filled with talks from leading experts, interactive activities and opportunities to connect with other young people with MS.
There will be lots of short sessions led by MSers and healthcare experts, as well as activities to get involved with, giving you a chance to meet and learn from other European MSers. We’re also looking for people with MS to give five minute lightning talks so please do let us know. See the contact section at the end.
Why not? Bucharest is an amazing and vibrant city with a great mix of history and vibrancy. MS Sessions 2017 was held in Prague and if we continue to run the festival in the future, the location will continue to change each time.
The idea of MS Sessions arose from chats between Shift.ms, EMSP and various people with MS at the EMSP annual conference in 2016.There was a feeling among many of the MSers there that they wanted to be at a festival where they could meet other people the same age as them (they were mostly in their 20s).
We’ve had many discussions around setting an age range. We knew that if we set an age, it would upset people. However we made the decision to have an age range as there was seemingly a need and desire for a festival specifically for people of this age range. We spoke with many MSers and other MS organisations who have set up events for ‘young’ people before we made the decision.
We chose 18-40 as this is the time when many people with MS are diagnosed (a recent study shows 81% are diagnosed under the age of 40). We intend everyone there (including the team) to be under the age of 40. The only exception will be some of the speakers.
You're expected in Bucharest on Friday 25th October when there will be a welcome dinner and a chance to meet everyone. It's also a chance to get a good night's sleep in preparation for the first full day of MS Sessions. If due to flight itineraries you cannot make it for dinner, your room will be still waiting for you on the 25th.
We're looking forward to welcoming you in the afternoon or evening of Friday 25th October.
Our intention is for every MSer who attends the festival to have their travel and accommodation paid for. All we ask is for an initial €25 registration fee, payment of which we’ll go through once we’ve confirmed your place.
We would encourage those applying to be available to attend the 2 ½ days and benefit the most from the festival.
Yes, you’ll most likely be sharing a room with another person with MS. If this is a problem, we’re happy to discuss an alternative if you have a confirmed place, although we cannot guarantee your own room. If you’ll be attending MS Sessions alongside your carer/PA, you’ll be offered a room that is suitable for the both of you.
Carers and personal assistants will be covered. Yes, partners are welcome. However, we cannot cover their costs and they will not be able to attend the festival. We only have enough rooms available for attendees so any partners will need to make alternative arrangements.
On Saturday 26th October, we’ll arrange for dinner and drinks in Bucharest. This will be an opportunity to get to know other people and see the city. The dinner and drinks during the dinner will be paid for.
You will be offered:
Buffet dinner on Friday 25th October.
Lunch & dinner on Saturday 26th October.
Lunch on Sunday 27th October.
Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday will be part of your accommodation package.
The working language and the language used by presenters will be English.
Following MS Sessions we hope you’ll feel engaged and ready to be an active advocate in your own country to make change and build your own community. We’ll give you the tools during MS Sessions to help you get started in your native country.
Funding of the festival is coming from five/six different pharmaceutical companies. An event of this type simply wouldn’t be possible without their support. Each of the funding requests has been made as a donation. Strict ABPI rules mean a donation of this type can not have ANY involvement or influence from the companies. Shift.ms and EMSP have complete and utter autonomy on every detail of the festival. Under no circumstances would we agree on a donation for the festival unless we had this.
If you’re selected to attend MS Sessions, we’ll provide guidance on how to book your travel including how to claim back your travel costs. If you are unable to book your travel for any reason, please get in touch.
If you’re selected to attend MS Sessions, we’ll book your accommodation at the Novotel Bucharest City Centre Hotel.
We will provide you transport details nearer the time.
No, the fee will not be refunded after 25th September.
Registration fee is €25. This is non-refundable after 25th September 2019.