Everyone is asked to… wear, dare and share! Wear red lipstick, dare others to do so (or at least a badge or sticker) and share the idea at work and message friends on Facebook and Twitter. This cheeky appeal does have a strong message behind it; to get the country talking about the often disabling neurological disease, multiple sclerosis.
More importantly it raises funds to help find a cure, prevention or improved treatments and services for people with MS. Recent years have brought substantial results adding to significant advances in prevention and treatments. More is needed for discoveries leading to a cure.
Organisers, MS Australia, also want Kiss goodbye to MS to highlight the incidence of MS; it is a disease mostly affecting women, generally diagnosed quite young, and that it is on the increase in both women and men.
Multiple Sclerosis affects over 21,000 Australians and 3.5 million people worldwide; three out of four people are women and they are diagnosed on average at the age of 30. It is the most common chronic neurological condition affecting young Australian adults.
These are strong messages to put on everyone’s lips. So on 30 May, wearing red lipstick is a way to get the conversation started. It’s a sexy, positive and strong way to show support and spread the word. And all the guys? Well they can wear a ‘lipstickers’ on their collars to show support!
And if everyone donated? Then we are doing more than simply paying lip-service to the cause.
Everyone can participate by making a donation, holding a ‘Kiss Goodbye to MS’ event or by buying badges and stickers. Visit www.kissgoodbyetoms.org or ‘like’ ‘Kiss Goodbye to MS’ on Facebook for more details.
Kiss Goodbye to MS is the new national fundraising campaign for MS Australia. It will take place throughout the month of May 2012, with various events and initiatives happening around the country, culminating in World MS Day on Wednesday 30 May. Visit www.kissgoodbyetoms.org for more details.
Multiple Sclerosis affects over 21,000 Australians and incidence is increasing. It most frequently afflicts young women in their prime. MS or ‘multiple scarring;’ is an incurable, chronic, and often disabling disease that randomly attacks and scars the protective insulation that surrounds the nerve fibres (myelin) in the brain and spinal cord. The progress, severity and symptoms are different for everyone. Symptoms range from tingling and numbness to paralysis and blindness. MS is particularly devastating because both physical and emotional effects are so unpredictable.
About MS Australia
MS Australia strives for a world without multiple sclerosis through quality research and for service excellence to people with multiple sclerosis and their carers. Visit www.msra.org.au
