The reaction to our mission? Enthusiastic. Emotional. Overwhelming.
Imagine an 84-year old lady having her hair done to meet Fly for MS. Imagine kids wearing national costumes waiting with balloons. Imagine twenty people waiting past midnight, with big smiles on their faces when Fly for MS landed with a delay of several hours.
But Andrei and Keith are not celebrities, and Fly for MS was a previously unknown, small organization. So why has the little plane's arrival stirred such a response everywhere? The answer is simple: people with MS felt that for once others cared, and for them that means hope. Hope that they and MS will be better understood, that others will join the fight against the disease, that perhaps their fight with MS will get easier.
Welcomed us in national costumes
Slovakia
National Air Force hosts us
Portugal
Health minister, neurologists greet us
Moldova
Waiting past mid-night to fly
Romania
Rented a bus to fit all wanting to fly
Estonia
84 year old has hair done to meet us
Iceland
The smile map
| 31 countries |
253 smiles |
thousands inspired |
The joy and happiness
Flying in a small plane is perhaps the ultimate freedom, a freedom most of us take for granted.
But for those with MS this freedom contrasts dramatically with the limitations they face daily. For most, flying - and some actually piloting the plane, was something they could not even dare to dream at. Many face extraordinary challenges even flying aboard large commercial jets.
For those with MS the joy of flying, something exhilarating to most of us, meant a lot more ... Their smiles say more about what they felt than any words ever could.
Denmark
Netherlands
Norway
Czech Republic
Turkey
Austria
Poland
Ireland
Sweden
UK
Italy
U.S.
Spain
Germany
Croatia
Slovakia
Portugal
Moldova
Romania
Estonia
Iceland
Russia
Sweden
Netherlands
An impact much deeper than the smiles
For many flying touched deeper chords. To some it brought back the days when they were like most of us. For others the experience helped them forget MS and their challenges, in many cases bringing joy to the entire family. And for all, the flight - both with its symbolism as well as its actual excitement, will remain a moment that will bring back a smile and ease the daily fight with MS, even if just for a fleeting second.
"Waiting to fly with you, I forgot about MS for the first time in 30 years"
Peter Jarabak - Slovakia
"We'll never forget this trip! My 2-year old points to the sky, saying 'more!'"
Heidi Pedersen - Denmark
"Experiencing the freedom of flying was ... immeasurable!"
Eric Powel - U.S.
"Thank you for showing we are not so different. We can be happy too!"
Ludmila - Moldova
"You made MS look hip, cool, and happening!"
Reni de Boer - Netherlands
"You helped me talk about MS with my friends. Thank you!"
Piotr Gołębiowski - Poland
Visiting MS treatment centers
The Fly for MS mission was not just about attracting attention to MS and bringing hope to those suffering from it. It was also about learning first-hand about the MS communities in each country, about the local MS organizations and the support they provide, and about what the biggest needs are in each of the countries visited.
This unique, first-hand experience, with 30 national MS organizations lead to the initiatives Fly for MS is working on currently. More on our programs here »
Portugal
Moldova
Spain
Iceland