A landmark new study being undertaken by the world-leading Murdoch University (WA) is looking to understand how the MS community has defied all odds and remained resilient against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new study is recruiting not only MS patients, but those within the wider MS community (carers, family members etc.), across the whole of Australia to understand the issues experienced by people with MS during these uncertain times and ways to mitigate the impacts of crises in the MS community.
Guidance dictates people with MS should take extra care to minimise exposure to the virus, and while isolation has caused most communities across Australia to break down, the MS community has risen up like never before.
World MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Day on May 30 is a day that recognises the MS community around the world. In Australia it is the culmination of the ‘The May 50k Challenge’ which has seen over 35,000 Australians complete 50km (more than a marathon) during the month to raise crucial research funds to find a cure for multiple sclerosis.
So far over 1,270,157 km has been completed – equivalent to 31 laps around the world – helping to raise over $5.5 million for life-changing MS research, from over 98,000 donations. And almost half of the participants have no personal connection to MS – showing how Aussies around the country have backed this campaign during such difficult times and demonstrated unprecedented levels of kindness, bravery and comradery.
While completing 50km over the month of May seems reasonable to many of us – a person with MS expends more energy while exercising than a person without MS, with it often feeling like 5 times as much. Taking on The May 50K for a person with MS is therefore equivalent to completing 250km, or more than five marathons in one month.
