Raising awareness about multiple sclerosis (MS) helps contribute to the well-being, support, and understanding of the MS community. One way to raise awareness of the condition and honor the MS community is by observing World MS Day, which takes place on May 30th each year.

The goal of World MS Day is to highlight the stories and voices of people living with MS. To get involved, search online for local events around World MS Day that may be happening near you. You can use the World MS Day map to find different resources and activities that take place worldwide to help raise awareness of the condition. You can also write a post on MyMSTeam to ask other team members what they are doing to get involved.

While World MS Day is an important event, it’s just one way to raise awareness of the condition. Here’s why raising awareness of MS matters, and some of the ways you can help bring MS to light.

MS Awareness Around the World

Increasing awareness of MS helps others become more familiar with the condition and how it affects people.

World MS Day was established in 2009 by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation to represent the 2.8 million individuals living with multiple sclerosis worldwide. Their goal is to raise awareness internationally about the experiences of people living with MS, as well as their caregivers, health care providers, and families.

Since its founding, this special awareness day has spread its message to hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. The event has hosted yearly campaigns, such as the My MS Diagnosis campaign, to help ensure that MS is diagnosed early and accurately. This includes training medical professionals, supporting MS research, and advocating for new standards for diagnosis.

The goal of World MS Day is to raise awareness internationally about the experiences of people living with MS.

The National MS Society sponsors MS Awareness Week each spring. In 2025, their goal is to launch a large social media campaign where people living with MS share their personal thoughts about the disease. By amplifying the voices of those living with MS, the National MS Society aims to raise awareness, build community, and encourage people to stand up to MS.

MS Focus: the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, spearheads National MS Education and Awareness Month each March in the U.S., along with other organizations. This nationwide event promotes education on MS and helps people living with the disease make informed decisions about their health.

Individuals can help raise awareness of MS throughout the year. Two symbols were chosen by the MS community to represent the condition — the MS ribbon and the MS butterfly. These symbols can be worn, shared online, or displayed in many ways to help those with the condition feel seen, heard, and most importantly, understood.

The MS Ribbon

Many people are familiar with the pink ribbon that represents breast cancer or the yellow ribbon for cancer awareness. MS, like many conditions such as cerebral palsy, ADHD, and Alzheimer’s disease, has its own awareness ribbon. The MS awareness ribbon is bright orange, and while it shares the ribbon color with other diseases (including leukemia, kidney cancer, melanoma, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), those living with MS proudly display the ribbon because of what it represents to them.

Awareness can help those living with MS feel like they aren’t alone.

One MyMSTeam member shared that they used their Christmas light display to support awareness both for their MS and their son’s Angelman syndrome. The display featured an orange ribbon and a blue ribbon side by side, with the word “hope” between them, all decked out in lights.

Another member honored MS Awareness Month by painting an orange awareness ribbon design onto their nails with polish. Others express their support by sharing photos on social media, wearing jewelry charms with the ribbon, or even getting tattoos. Each of these personal expressions helps those with MS and their loved ones bring attention to the experiences of the MS community.

The MS Symbol: A Butterfly

The orange butterfly, entwined with an orange ribbon, has become another popular symbol of MS. While it may be less well-known than the MS orange ribbon, it’s just as important for many in the MS community.

For some people in the MS community, butterflies represent how they’ve transformed their lives for the better after diagnosis.

One MyMSTeam member asked others how — and why — the MS community chose the butterfly symbol. Another member replied that it was chosen because the caterpillar-to-butterfly cycle symbolizes life changes. “They are considered a symbol of life transformation,” the member wrote.

For some people in the MS community, the butterfly represents how they’ve transformed their lives for the better after diagnosis. One member shared a different take. “It is a sign of HOPE,” they shared. Another member pointed out that MRI brain scans resemble butterfly shapes, which further connects the symbol to MS.

You can find the butterfly logo on T-shirts, jewelry, stickers, and many other items. These forms of expression can help you and your allies raise multiple sclerosis awareness and bring attention to the MS community.

Raising Awareness With MS Tattoos

While tattoos aren’t for everyone, many MyMSTeam members have chosen to get them to show their commitment to MS awareness. “Today, I had my 6-month visit to my neuro. The only changes are improvements. Lesions have shrunk and faded. I’m so happy I got the MS Awareness ribbon tattooed within the word ‘hope’,” a member wrote.

Another member said, “I got my first tattoo. It’s an MS ribbon butterfly. I’m not letting the MS beat me, I’m going to beat the MS!”

Someone else shared, “Getting matching MS ribbon tattoos with my mom. I'm really grateful for my mom and all her support :)”

Why MS Awareness Matters

Awareness is important because it benefits both those living with MS and those who aren’t directly affected by the disease. For the millions of people living with MS, outreach and education on their condition can help them feel acknowledged and accepted by others. Raising awareness has helped put MS in the public eye and fights the stigma that can arise when a condition is misunderstood or even feared.

Awareness can also help those with MS feel like they aren’t alone, which is important for mental health. Hearing other people share their MS stories — the struggles they’ve faced before and after their diagnoses, and how they’ve overcome them — can be uplifting and empowering. Greater awareness of MS also helps make the disease more real and understandable for those who don’t live with MS.

Raising awareness helps shine a light on the physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects of MS. It also encourages others to take action as they show support in the battle against MS — whether by supporting treatment, promoting understanding, or ultimately, working toward a cure.

Find Your Team

MyMSTeam is the social network for people with MS and their loved ones. On MyMSTeam, more than 217,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with multiple sclerosis.

Have you participated in any special events for MS awareness? Do you wear or display the orange ribbon or butterfly? Share your experiences in the comments below or by posting to your Activities page.