On my Ride around Australia, I will also be promoting a great charity and that is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) . The link for donations to MS Australia is http://www.everydayhero.com.au/mario_graziano Please give generously.
If you are a CA Technology employee, CA Technology will match $ for $ on employee contributions.
Thank you Mario
6 FACTS ABOUT MS
WHAT IS MS
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that randomly attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). People with MS may experience varying degrees of blurred vision, speech difficulties, limb weakness, co-ordination loss, shaking in the hands, numbness, loss of balance, extreme tiredness and memory lapses. MS is a devastating condition because people live with its unpredictable physical and emotional effects for the rest of their lives.
WHO GETS MS
People are typically diagnosed in their twenties and thirties, with an average age of diagnosis at 30. Interestingly three times more women are affected by MS than men and it is more common in cooler climates.
WHAT CAUSES MS
The overall cause of MS is still unknown. The healthy body’s immune system normally defends the body from attack by viruses or bacteria. But in the case of MS, the body’s immune system attacks its own myelin, causing disruption to nerve transmission. Scientists do not yet know what triggers the immune system to do this. They agree several facts are involved including genetics, gender and
environmental triggers.
CAN MS BE CURED
MS is a lifelong disease for which a cure is yet to be found. However, doctors and scientists are making discoveries in treating and understanding MS everyday and research to find a cure is very encouraging.
WHY IS MS SO DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE
Some people have symptoms that are very difficult for GPs to interpret, and these people must “wait and see”. While no single laboratory test is yet available to prove or rule out MS, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has greatly aided in definitive diagnosis.
WHAT SERVICES DOES MS AUSTRALIA PROVIDE
MS Australia – ACT/NSW/VIC provides programs and choices to people with MS including a range of residential facilities, social support programs, accommodation support services, attendant care in private homes, involvement with regional centres and country link programs. These services are vital to maintain the independence and dignity of people with MS. Approximately 20,000 people in Australia currently have MS, however this figure is increasing as diagnosis methods become more advanced. The incidence of MS in Australia is growing by 10% each year and it means that we have to grow our support by at least 10% every year just to keep up!
MS Australia partners with the community in seeking support to provide services to people with MS. This would not be possible without the generous financial support of people who donate to the organisation, those who actively fundraise in the community, or the 2000 people who volunteer their services in some way.
