MS Article Yr 10 Charity Committee

The Year 10 Charity Committee is supporting the MS Australia Foundation this year and will, if current circumstances subside, be holding various events to spread the message about Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The MS Australia Foundation is a charity focused on supporting MS patients and funding vital research. The prevalence of MS means it is vital to find a cure. Presently, there is no cure for MS, although there are treatments designed to minimise its symptoms and increase the quality of life of sufferers. There are over 25,600 people living in Australia with MS. On average, more than ten Australians are diagnosed with it every week, with three quarters of those diagnosed being women. MS is a chronic disease that disables parts of the brain’s central nervous system, resulting in changes to one’s memory and cognitive functions. This, as one can most likely imagine, can lead to serious ramifications which have drastic effects on sufferers’ lives. Ultimately, there is no cure for MS and research is critical for the advancements in MS treatments. The complex nature of the disease requires comprehensive tests which focus on finding ways of stimulating stem cells in myelin repair, as well as repairing and maintaining the health of nerve fibres. Currently, the wide gaps in knowledge about nerve damage and myelin loss has resulted in significantly reduced funding for MS research. The Year 10 Charity Committee hopes to raise awareness about Multiple Sclerosis and bring to the spotlight the stories of those who live and thrive with MS everyday. Hopefully a short article submitted by our Committee shall come to be a staple and hallmark of this publication. Through this, and hopefully other means once this current crisis has abated, we aim to raise awareness of MS and perhaps fundraise for research into its cure.

Gordon Huang, Andy Chen, Peter Tran, Ethan Nguyen & Oliver Simmonds – Year 10 Charity Committee