Townsville swimmers of all ages will gather on Saturday to raise money for vital MS research
MS Queensland invites swimmers and community members from across NQ to participate in a day of fun to raise money for those living with multiple sclerosis.
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A daunting diagnosis during her university years left Kate shaken and unsure of where she should turn for support, something she’s now committed to make sure doesn’t happen to anyone else.
Kate Casey has been living with multiple sclerosis since she was 18, and is eager for the entire city to show up in force for a fundraising day to support her and others like her.
“Those funds go towards supporting services that MS Queensland offers to people living with MS, and also things like accessing the NDIS, specialist nursing services and research efforts,” she said.
“We don’t understand the cause of MS and there is no cure for it, so there’s still a lot of work going on in that research space.”
Having lived with MS for almost 20 years, Ms Casey said all people experience MS differently, making it challenging to manage the condition day to day and highlighting the importance for further research.
“There’s a variety of different symptoms you can have, visual disturbances, muscle spasticity which can impact mobility, and then dizziness and balance problems,” she said.
“There’s a wide gamut of symptoms, and everybody’s journey with MS is different,”
Ms Casey said she was still at university when she was diagnosed, and was unclear of ways forward.
“There wasn’t a lot of support for young people,” she said.
“That’s something that I’m really passionate about, putting across information to other young people who are diagnosed with MS that there are still other options for you.”
“This is not the end.”
“Even if you can’t do all the things that you really wanted to do, you might be able to do them in a slightly different way.”
Ms Casey said the Super Splash is a “huge community day,” and she hopes to see locals turn up and support people living with MS.
“Come and have a chat to the MSQ crew who are running the event, have a chat to participants who are swimming in the event,” she said.
“We want the pool to be an open place for a fantastic day for the community.”
She’s hoping to see plenty of people participating in the MS Super Splash.
The fundraising day invites swimmers and community members of all ages to hit Long Tan Memorial Pool for MS.
The event first ran in 2012, and in its 13 years has raised almost $500k for MS Queensland, and this year, the event hopes to raise $40k for vital MS support and research.
MS Queensland supports more than 5000 people across the state living with multiple sclerosis, a neurological disease which attacks the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
The event will be held at Long Tan Memorial Pool on Saturday, May 17 from 8am.
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Originally published as Townsville swimmers of all ages will gather on Saturday to raise money for vital MS research
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