Holly’s Helping Hand for MS

Six-year-old Holly from Woodbridge is already a star participant in this year’s Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Readathon. She became involved on behalf of her mother, Frances Shaw, who was diagnosed with MS over 10 years ago.

Holly’s fundraising goal was to raise $150, however she has exceeded her goal and has currently raised over $900 and counting.

“I like the MS Readathon because I get to raise money to help people with MS, like my mum, and their families to know they are not alone,” Holly said.

“The MS Readathon is fun because I get to read lots of books and encourage my friends to join in for a good cause.”

The Readathon aims to inspire kids to read as much as they can, all for a good cause.

Holly is one of 1,262 Tasmania kids reading up a storm from 1-31 August 2020.

MS Readathon has been running for more than 40 years, helping to implement practical and useful tactics into children’s learning and development, while teaching children how to fundraise for an important cause.

The funds support the almost eight hundred Tasmanian residents living with MS. They are used for events such as MS Family Camps which are run across the country, including in Hobart, through MS Limited. The camps provide an opportunity for kids who have a parent or family member living with MS to spend quality time with their family, learn more about MS and bond with other kids sharing their journey.

Other essential services delivered by MS Limited include service coordination, phone support, physiotherapy and exercise therapy, psychology, and accommodation.

MS Limited Chief Executive Officer John Blewonski said he was excited to see Tasmania’s love of reading continue to grow with record numbers in 2020.

“MS Readathon exists to help implement practical and useful tactics into children’s learning, with literacy an essential skill that children need to succeed,” Blewonski said. “The MS Readathon is about kids helping kids with family members with MS to learn more about the condition and to know they are not alone.”

This year, the campaign aims to raise more than $2.5 million.

Registration is free, and children can do so individually or with their school, while being encouraged to write online book reviews and rate their favourite reads.