Frequently Asked Questions
What is My MS Woof?
My MS Woof is a dog walking fundraising challenge where we’re asking supporters to walk 130km throughout October. If you think 130km is too far for you or your dog, you can set your own distance and walk, roll or stroll as far as you can.
However far you walk and however long it takes, it’s all about raising vital funds to help stop MS.
Can I start early or late?
Of course! October is when our Facebook group is active and the majority of people are likely to take part, but you can do this whenever is convenient for you. If you signed up but wish to take part earlier or later in the year, just let us know so we can continue to support you.
Can I do more or less than 130k
Absolutely. This is your challenge, and you can tailor it to suit you. Just be clear with your supporters how far you are intending to go and keep them regularly updated with your progress.
Do I have to walk?
No you don’t - you can walk, roll or stroll your distance or do a mixture of all three! We advise you to do whatever is within your ability but is still challenging for you. Making sure it is enough of a challenge means people will be more likely to sponsor you. Make sure the distance is achievable for your dog as well.
Is there an age limit for My MS Walk?
There’s no age limit for My MS Woof and we welcome people of all ages. However, you need to be over 18 years old to register. If you’re under 18, please ask a parent or guardian to sign up on your behalf.
What is JustGiving and how do I use it?
JustGiving is an online fundraising platform which you can use to collect your donations. Your fundraising page will be set up automatically when you sign up for My MS Woof. To access your page go to the JustGiving website and enter the log in details you supplied when you signed up. If you signed up online, your confirmation email will also have a link to your page. You can share your page with friends and family to encourage them to donate to your challenge.
How do I get help with my JustGiving fundraising page?
If you need help using your fundraising page, making a donation, or anything else JustGiving related, their dedicated support team can help you out. You can message JustGiving here if you need any help or can’t find what you’re looking for. Alternatively, check out JustGiving's FAQs.
I’m having problems signing up, who do I contact with questions?
Please email us at mswalk@mssociety.org.uk to tell us about any problems you’re having. Or you can call 01382 279378 and a member of our events team will be able to help you.
What happens after I sign up and what support will I receive from the MS Society?
We’re here to support you on your My MS Woof journey. When you sign up, we’ll send you an MS Society t-shirt and dog bandana in the post and then regular emails to give you inspiration, motivation, top tips and fundraising resources and ideas.
We’d also love for you to join the My MS Woof Facebook group to chat with others in the MS community and share your successes, top tips and of course, cute photos of your canines!
How do I track my Kilometers?
If you use Strava or FitBit you can link your fundraising page to the fitness app and your page will be updated every time you complete a walk.
If you don’t want to use a fitness app, you can still easily keep track of your kilometers through your fundraising page. You can do this by manually updating your JustGiving fundraising page. Firstly, make sure you're logged in, then you will see a 'log fitness' button on your fundraising page. Click on this and you'll be able to add your fitness manually on your fundraising page for all your supporters to see!
You can also use you Kilometer tracker included in your welcome guide. So, there are many ways to keep your supporters updated on how you are getting on. Fundraisers who use this feature raise an average 46% more!
Can I meet other people taking part?
Yes! Once you've signed up, please join our Facebook group to chat with other people taking part in My MS Woof.
How do I fundraise?
As soon as you sign up to your challenge your fundraising page will be created for you. It’s simple! All income is transferred directly to us. You’ll be able to share your progress on Facebook and Twitter too. And we’ll also provide fundraising tips and support throughout your journey.
Is there a minimum fundraising amount?
There’s no minimum fundraising amount. If you are one of the first 30 people to raise £300 you will receive a Storeys and Tails orange lead!
We encourage you to make the most of your challenge by asking your friends and family for sponsorship to help us fund even more life-changing research.
How do I pay in my money?
Ask people to donate directly to your fundraising page. That way, the money will come to us automatically.
If you’ve collected cash then you can pay in the money to your fundraising page using a credit or debit card.
Please contact mswalk@mssociety.org.uk if you’d like to send us a cheque.
If you’re making an offline donation please fill out a sponsorship form and tick the Gift Aid box.
Is there a deadline for paying in donations?
You should pay in your donations by 31 October 2023.
How do I get a MS Society dog bandana?
Simply sign up to My MS Woof by setting up your JustGiving page and we'll send you your free dog bandana.
My MS Society dog bandana doesn't fit my dog?
We only have two bandana sizes Small/Medium and Large.
If the Small/Medium is too small or the Large is too big then just let us know by contacting mswalk@mssociety.org.uk and we will organise for the other bandana size to be sent.
If the Small/Medium and it is too big , unfortunately we don’t have a smaller size, but you could try; threading it through the collar and rolling the bandana up or threading it through the lead so it flies as a little flag!