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The uniting purpose of the 2008 GDP was to raise funds for and create awareness about the existence of paediatric MS and the work of the International Pediatric MS Study Group (IPMSSG)In February 2008, MS supporters around the world hosted events for family and friends in support of this international project as well as national and local MS projects and programmes.
Events were held in the following countries:
Australia
Once again the Australian Rotarian Action Group for Multiple Sclerosis Awareness lent their support to the event by hosting a party in Melbourne, Australia.
Some 70 guests enjoyed an internationally themed evening held in a luxury show apartment which was provided free of charge. An auction was held and a glamorous Turkish dancer entertained the guests. AU$1000 was raised with the monies being divided between MSIF, Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia's Foundation 5 Million project and a scholarship for a local MS research PhD student.
Canada
Canadian hosts planned, cooked, and entertained family and friends for what resulted in being yet another record breaking fundraising year!
Host: Shannon Smith, Toronto, ON
Every year I theme my MS Global Dinner Party - this year's event was a Bob Fosse inspired night. No one knew the theme until they arrived at the house - and then each guest picked out a top hat, fishnet gloves, a sparkle bow tie and flirty fake eyelashes. The night was filled with lots of delicious food and great drinks.
Midway through the evening we had a professional dance instructor from Pulse Dance Works teach us the Broadway dance to Hey Big Spender. It was a great way to get people dancing and enjoying the theme. Girlish games and prizes kept the night going until the wee hours.
Thanks to the support of all my friends and family we were able to raise twice the amount of my pre-set fundraising goal! A special thank you to Nadine at Pulse Works Dance Studio who donated half of her fees back to the MS Society.
It was a wonderful night for an incredible cause and I am happy to have been a part of the 2008 Global Dinner Party fundraising event.
Host: Sarah McCullagh, Georgetown, ON
In May 2007 I walked in the hospital with back problems....I walked out three days later with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Life-altering for a wife and mother of two small girls but as my favourite saying became..."it is what it is"
I have been very fortunate to remain healthy and happy during the past year and want to do my part to help others and search for a cure. When I heard about the Global Dinner Party, I immediately called up my biggest supporter Sherry Brake. Never one to turn down a good party, she was on board right away...and here we are PARTYING FOR A CURE! With the additional help of an amazing production company and my very patient husband, we were able to put together a party full of friends, fun, dancing, and most importantly FUNDRAISING!
I am thrilled to say that, thanks to the generosity of family and friends, we doubled our original goal of CA$5000 and raised CA$10,000 for the MS Society of Canada.
I look forward to another year...full of health, happiness, and continued support for the MS Society!
Host: Janet Neumeyer, Hudson, QC
In 2000, I was diagnosed with relapse-remitting MS. 2008 was the third time I had hosted a Global Dinner Party. I skipped last year for medical reasons, but set out determined to make up for it this year. 20 friends attended a Chilli Dinner at my friend’s restaurant, which once again he graciously donated to us.
18 local businesses donated gifts for the raffle. The prizes were phenomenal, and included spa treatments, wine-making kits, restaurant brunches and dinners and culinary appliances. The raffle alone raised CA$250.
The MS Society of Canada’s online fundraising feature was a great idea, CA$1161 was raised through our event’s fundraising page taking our total to a whopping CA$1740.
Even our 2 local papers put in adverts mentioning the event. Unfortunately, this did not generate any feedback, but we will go back next year with a different approach. I’m already looking forward to next year’s Global Dinner Party.
Host: Kari Brown-John, Fort St John, BC
I was diagnosed with MS in July of 2001. Since my diagnosis, I have had no involvement with the MS Society or any fundraising events. One day, while browsing the MS Society website, I stumbled upon the MS Global Dinner Party page. Cooking is my passion, so I decided to have a few friends over for dinner on 23 February 2008.
 After discussing the MS Global Dinner Party with my family and friends, we decided to do a bit more. We just built a house perfect for entertaining, so we chose to have a three-course, sit-down dinner (West Coast Waldorf Salad, Prime Rib with rosemary/thyme roasted potatoes and vegetables, and assorted squares and mini cream puffs for dessert). We moved out the furniture, rented four round tables and made a 'gala' out of it.
We had 32 guests, who were all our friends and the few family members that live in Fort St John.
We went to local businesses and asked for door prize donations. We got such awesome items we decided to have a small silent auction and raise another CA$1000. We also had a Texas Hold’em poker tournament and donated all the proceeds from that to the MS Society.
The support from the community was amazing. The local grocers donated food and my husband’s employer picked up the remaining grocery bill. The local Lions Club donated the chair and a local hotel paid for the table, dishes, cutlery rental. I also had HUGE support from online donors far surpassing my original goal of CA$500!
I did all the cooking myself and seven of my good friends and my mother volunteered in the kitchen, as waitresses and poker dealers. The evening was a huge success. The two local newspapers both put photos and a small story in their papers. We cannot wait until next year!
Read more about Canada's 2008 events
Estonia
This was the first year that the Estonian MS Society participated in the event. The Society held a number of small events to raise awareness of MS including partnering with a dance group and providing activities for children. The local branch from Tartu City, which has run a theatre company for the past six years, put on a performance for the occasion. The monies raised from the events this year have been partly invested in materials for the 2009 GDP events already being planned.
Germany
Once again relatives, friends and colleagues were invited to events held nationwide where, instead of giving presents, donations towards MS research were made. 48 hosts collected around €22,400 and events ranged from an MS Gala to afternoon tea with friends.
One of the highlights was the Charity Cooking Event where children and adults alike cooked and celebrated together. A 20-metre counter was soon piled high with delicious food for everyone to enjoy. Guests were also given the opportunity to watch the short film Multiple Sclerosis - a journey through time.
Read more about Germany's 2008 events
India
 As part of the 2008 GDP, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Multiple Sclerosis Society of India's (MSSI) Chennai Chapter held the GEMS 2008 Art Auction. The event took place in the Hotel Park Sheraton Towers in Chennai and artists from the length and breadth of India contributed their work with 27 paintings being auctioned.
This prestigious event began with the lighting of the lamp by His Excellency Shri Surjit Singh Barnala, Governor of Tamilnadu.
Other special guests included Mrs Poongothai, Honorable Minister for Social Welfare, Mrs Kanimozhi, Member of Parliament for New Delhi, Mr Firdose Vandrevala, Honorary President and Mrs Sheela Chitnis, CEO of MSSI. Guests were treated to cocktails and canapés during the auction. Cardiologist Dr K.P Mishra, a keen supporter of the Chapter’s work was auctioneer for the evening and Mrs Dolly Khanna, Chapter Secretary and India’s representative on MSIF’s Persons with MS International Committee, was curator.
Malta
Report and photographs to follow.
Namibia
Within three weeks of first deciding to host a GDP event, two members of Multiple Sclerosis Namibia had found sponsors and informed the local radio stations and a local newspaper. A Cake and Tea sale was organised and on 23 February, despite bad weather, the equivalent of £200 was raised.
Netherlands
2008 saw the first ever virtual GDP. On 23 February the team behind the MS Island Vumc in Second Life hosted a concert with live performances from singer Carmen Roeth and dj-ing from Maarten Supercharge.
The concert allowed people from all over the world to be a part of the GDP via their computers and to date the event has raised over €900. The event was covered by the Dutch online media and featured in a number of blogs, it was even listed as ‘Event of the Week’ in SL’s online newsletter The Avastar.
Watch a video about the 2007 event held in Second Life.
Poland
The uniting purpose of the 2008 Global Dinner Party (GDP) was to raise funds for and create awareness about the existence of paediatric MS and the work of the IPMSSG and in Poland, guests were treated to an exceptional charity concert at the Witold Lutosławski Polish Radio Concert Hall, featuring guest performances by young artists from Karol Zymanowski Music Schools and the Warsaw School of Economics Academic Choir.
A large number of meetings, auctions and concerts took place during the Polish GDP celebrations, and attendees included specialists in child neurology, plus other authorities and celebrities, including the actress Alina Janowska, the Children’s Ombudsman Ewa Sowińska and Professors Sergiusz Jóźwiak, Elżbieta Marszał and Zbigniew Stelmasiak.
The Chair of the Polish MS Society, Ms Izabela Czarnecka, said "The concert and the commitment of the Karol Szymanowski Music Schools, from pupils and staff to the honorary board members, is a huge boost for the Polish Multiple Sclerosis Society. As a Society, we constantly try to help our members to access appropriate treatment and the necessary rehabilitation. It is also a pleasure to see young people involved in fundraising to help to improve the health of their peers affected by MS."
Read the full report in Polish
Spain
Host: Alicia Heredero, Madrid
Once again I hosted a GDP event. Spending an evening with eight friends, sharing and laughing, was a great way to strengthen our spirits. My lasagna night raised €140.
Host: Mabel Arribas de Lucas, Burgos, Castilla y León
My parents, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews and some good friends all gathered for an afternoon of games. We played bingo, ‘Sing Stars’ and twister amongst others, raising €221 for the fight against MS.
Host: Montse Roig Bonet, Barcelona, Cataluña
 We celebrated a calçotada with a group of friends from Barcelona and Madrid. Calçotada is a typical gastronomic party from Cataluña which is celebrated from the end of winter to the beginning of spring. Calçot is a variety of chive which is cooked over embers, adorned with a special sauce and then eaten with your hands.
Our friends from Madrid laughed a lot when they put on the typical bibs!
Read more about Spain's 2008 events
Switzerland
Swiss hosts raised a total of CHF2380 in 2008. Gaby Ardüsers celebrated the event with friends at her own in-house bar, collecting CHF400, whilst Maja and Erhard Bauhofer from Reiden, Lucerne invited guests to enjoy a meal at their home and raised CHF280.
Read more about the 2008 events held in Switzerland
USA
The National MS Society (NMSS) raised awareness nationwide for the 2008 MS Global Dinner Party and encouraged volunteers across the country to participate by hosting an event online or on the ground during MS Awareness Week 2008. The event featured on the NMSS’s social networking sites including facebook, MySpace and YouTube. The nationwide chapter network was also informed about the event via news bulletins. The awareness building that has taken place this year has laid the foundations upon which to build for the 2009 GDP.
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