This year marks the 30th MS Readathon and will be running from 13th October – 13th November 2017. The very first MS Readathon was launched by Roald Dahl in 1988.
During last year’s Readathon, the children who took part in Ireland raised a €325,000 to help provide practical support to people with MS.
The Readathon encourages children to read while also supporting the MS charity. So a win – win for all!!
For kids who already love to read, the Readathon is a chance to challenge themselves with a longer or more difficult book. And for kids who aren’t as keen on reading, it’s a nice opportunity to read a book for a great cause.
First off, what is MS?
Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a disease of the central nervous system, spine, and brain.
The central nervous system sends messages along nerves to different parts of the body. These messages are what tells the body what to do – how to feel and how to move.
MS happens when the immune system attacks myelin, a material that is wrapped around nerves to protect them. Without this protective outer shell, the nerves get damaged.
The damage means that the brain can’t send signals through the body properly. The nerves don’t work like they should to allow the person to feel or move as they should.
MS affects individuals differently. Symptoms include:
difficulty walking
fatigue
memory & concentration problems
tingling or numb sensations
pain
My references for the above are Web MD & MS Ireland. Check them out to learn more.
How to get involved with the Readathon?
Basically, kids read as many books as they like from 13 October to 13 November and get sponsorship/donations from family and friends for doing so. That money is then sent to MS Ireland to support a worthy cause.
There are prizes up for grabs including 10 new iPads. Parents or teachers can sign up the kiddies on the Readathon website.
You can get full details & sign up on the MS Readathon Website, or give them a call at (01) 678 1600.
I’m a big believer in reading to kids and encouraging kids to read themselves. I think that reading helps kids grow their imaginations and build their creativity. The MS Readathon is a great opportunity to encourage your kids or students to read while also raising money to support those who have MS.
Note this post is not sponsored, I am simply supporting a worthy charity.
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