Longford author Shelley Corcoran helps launch the 37th annual MS Readathon

MS Ireland has officially launched its 37th annual MS Readathon which will take place from 1 November to 15 December. 

The annual MS Readathon was launched yesterday by best selling author Eoin Colfer, RTÉ's very own Rick O'Shea, and Longford author Shelley Corcoran.

With registrations now open to take part in the Readathon, book lovers of all ages are invited to join in on the fun and raise much-needed funds to support people living with MS. 

The MS Readathon is MS Ireland's oldest and most anticipated event each year. The event was originally launched by Roald Dahl in 1988 and has continued to grow in popularity since. To take part in the MS Readathon, readers are encouraged to read as many books as possible while seeking sponsorship from family and friends. 

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Not only will taking part in the MS Readathon raise money for an incredibly important cause, it can also help boost children's reading habits. Before the launch of the MS Readathon, MS Ireland conducted a survey which revealed that 75% of parents observed an increase in their children's creativity and imagination due to regular reading. The results emphasis the important role reading plays in cognitive and emotional development, especially with children. 

Speaking to the Longford Leader about the MS Readathon, Longford native and author Shelley Corcoran said: "The Readathon itself is an amazing event. It not only raises much needed funds for an amazing charity but it also encourages children to read, and read with a purpose.

She added that as an author and avid reader, she understands the importance of encouraging children to read from an early age. As Shelley points out, this event does exactly that while also "serving a purpose by raising funds for charity."

She said: "For children to be able to do something that is fun like reading and feel that they can contribute to helping people with this disease, it's just amazing."

Shelley also noted that the event is incredibly important for raising awareness about MS, especially for those who may not have been touched by the illness, including children. She said: "I think all too often people feel that we need to shield children from illnesses, but I think we need to give children a lot more credit than we do. I think we should be opening up their eyes to something like MS as it does affect children as well. Children can also suffer from MS."

Shelley went on to say that the Readathon is important to her as she herself knows someone who suffers with MS. Shelley said: "I know somebody who has MS and she is quite young, she is in her early 20s. She is just constantly smiling and constantly positive even though she has had huge struggles with having MS.

"I think it is really important to create awareness around it and the condition itself, but also to create an atmosphere where we can talk about it. I think the Readathon does that because the Readathon itself is a really fun event and something everyone can get involved in."

Shelley reiterated: "Children can take part in the Readathon, adults can take part in the Readathon, and then of course, adults can sponsor children to take part in the Readathon. The whole community can take part in this really fun event and raise funds for a quite serious condition."

Speaking at the launch of the MS Readathon, Chief Executive of MS Ireland, Ava Battles, said: "For many young readers, the MS Readathon is often their first meaningful experience with books, sparking a love of reading that lasts a lifetime. The MS Readathon is so important to MS Ireland and the MS community. It is our biggest fundraising campaign, and without it we could not continue providing the crucial services that people living with MS rely on."

RTÉ’s Rick O’Shea added to this, saying: "The MS Readathon is a fantastic way to inspire young readers, and perhaps even reignite a love of reading in adults too. By engaging in the Readathon, we can empower the next generation to embrace the joy of reading while raising vital funds for those affected by multiple sclerosis."

Author of the bestselling 'Artemis Fowl', Eoin Colfer also said: "Reading opens the door to worlds both real and imagined, and there's nothing more rewarding than watching young minds light up with curiosity. The MS Readathon encourages that spark, helping children discover stories that may stay with them forever, all while supporting such an important cause."

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic neurological condition that affects over 10,000 people in Ireland. Funds raised through the MS Readathon will go directly to support MS Ireland’s crucial services, including respite, physiotherapy, and peer support, all of which play a vital role in improving the quality of life for those affected by MS.

Participants can now choose to raise money through online fundraising pages or traditional sponsorship cards. To make fundraising easier, MS Ireland has introduced personalised QR codes for each reader. These codes can be printed or shared digitally, allowing sponsors to easily donate by scanning the code with their phone.

So no matter what age you are or what books you like to read, be sure to sign up to this year's annual MS Readathon to help support this important cause. 

For more information about the MS Readathon and how to sign up, you can visit www.msreadathon.ie.