Read more about the 2008 Global Dinner Party (GDP)

What is the MS Global Dinner Party?

Since 2003, the annual MS Global Dinner Party (GDP) has united MS organisations around the world. On the same date MS supporters worldwide host a dinner party event for MS. This global event raises funds nationally and internationally for MS, helps to promote awareness of the disease and supports the work of national MS societies in the global movement to find the cause and a cure for MS.

The events can be held for friends, family, neighbours or colleagues and can range from formal catered dinners to casual home gatherings. Instead of bringing a gift for the host, everyone invited to a GDP event is asked to make a donation to support the fight against MS.

The event does not have to include food – a quiz or film evening could be organised or a play or concert performed. The GDP could take place in someone’s home or garden, a restaurant, a town or village hall or any suitable venue.

The way you use your event to raise money is up to you. You might take up a collection, charge an entry fee, sell tickets or even hold a promises auction. What really matters is that the GDP raises funds to support people affected by MS and further research into finding a cure.

To make participating in the GDP even easier, MSIF provides all the materials national MS societies and individual hosts need to promote the event, including registration forms, invitations, donation cards and posters.

Take part and support the MS global movement!

Find out more about organising an event

Where will the funds go?

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) Find out more.

Research into paediatric MS will allow more effective therapies to be developed and help children like 11 year old Caitlin, who was diagnosed with MS when she was eight.

MSIF, together with several of its member societies, is already providing organisational and financial support to the IPMSSG. Participating national MS societies were encouraged to use 50 percent of the funds they raised through GDP events in their country to support their own projects and programmes, and to donate the remaining 50% of the funds to MSIF to enable the vital work of the IPMSSG to continue.

Read all about the GDP 2005, GDP 2006 and GDP 2007 events that took place across the globe.