MS Readathon
Encyclopedia
The MS Readathon is an annual sponsored read held by the MS Societies in Australia
, Ireland
and Canada
.
started in 1979 and is Australia’s premier reading-based fundraiser. The MS Readathon encourages Australians to read books, learn about multiple sclerosis
(MS) and raise funds to help people living with Multiple Sclerosis
.
Participants can read for any 30 days in June, July and August. Sponsorship enables the MS Readthon to provide a certificate and reading rewards to participants who complete the program as a special thank you. There are different categories of rewards, dependent on the level of fundraising achieved.
The money raised by MS Readathon participants helps the MS Society to provide services to assist people living with MS such as physiotherapy, access to specialist MS nurses and respite care, whilst also working towards funding research into this mystery illness.
In the 30th anniversary year of 2009 $2.4 million dollars was raised nationally from over 50,000 participants. Over 1 million books were read and almost 2,500 schools received a visit from an MS Readathon community representative.
In 2010, due to increased interest from parents, grandparents and members of book-clubs,the MS Readathon expanded to further involve adults under the banner of The Novel Challenge.
In The Novel Challenge participants choose a book list, read for 30 days and collect sponsorship which goes towards supporting the 20,000 Australians living with MS.
is an annual sponsored read organised by the charity MS Ireland, encouraging children (and since 2003, adults) to read as many books as possible, and to collect a fixed amount per book from sponsors. The money collected goes towards MS Ireland's activities concerning sufferers of multiple sclerosis
. 2004 was the event's 17th year. In 2003, the charity raised over 1.2 million euros.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Australia
The MS Readathon run by MS AustraliaMS Australia
MS Australia is a national, not-for-profit organisation that delivers services to people with MS . MS Australia aims to enhance the quality of life of people with Multiple Sclerosis and reduce the impact MS has on the families and carers.....
started in 1979 and is Australia’s premier reading-based fundraiser. The MS Readathon encourages Australians to read books, learn about multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
(MS) and raise funds to help people living with Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
.
Participants can read for any 30 days in June, July and August. Sponsorship enables the MS Readthon to provide a certificate and reading rewards to participants who complete the program as a special thank you. There are different categories of rewards, dependent on the level of fundraising achieved.
The money raised by MS Readathon participants helps the MS Society to provide services to assist people living with MS such as physiotherapy, access to specialist MS nurses and respite care, whilst also working towards funding research into this mystery illness.
In the 30th anniversary year of 2009 $2.4 million dollars was raised nationally from over 50,000 participants. Over 1 million books were read and almost 2,500 schools received a visit from an MS Readathon community representative.
In 2010, due to increased interest from parents, grandparents and members of book-clubs,the MS Readathon expanded to further involve adults under the banner of The Novel Challenge.
In The Novel Challenge participants choose a book list, read for 30 days and collect sponsorship which goes towards supporting the 20,000 Australians living with MS.
Ireland
The MS Readathon in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
is an annual sponsored read organised by the charity MS Ireland, encouraging children (and since 2003, adults) to read as many books as possible, and to collect a fixed amount per book from sponsors. The money collected goes towards MS Ireland's activities concerning sufferers of multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
. 2004 was the event's 17th year. In 2003, the charity raised over 1.2 million euros.
External links
- The Novel Challenge Australia
- MS Readathon Australia
- MS READaTHON Ireland
- MS Read-a-thon Canada
- MS Australia
- List of multiple sclerosis foundations