Tuesday, 6 February 2024

MS Mega Challenge

Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (14:04): I rise to update the house about a recent initiative I am participating in, which is the upcoming MS Mega Swim challenge. It is a 24-hour swimming challenge to raise funds to find a cure for and assist people who are living with multiple sclerosis. There are over 33,000 people living with MS in Australia, and everyone’s experience is unique. Living with MS is complex and can be unpredictable, with varied symptoms that can range from mild to severe. They can relapse and they can remit. They may flare up once in a while or last for long periods of time. Recent research has shown that out of every new diagnosis approximately three in four people who are diagnosed with MS are women, so it is incredibly important that we continue the fight to find a cure for MS. It is poorly understood, and the role of women’s hormones on the impact of MS is also poorly understood. So I look forward to participating in that challenge. I have known some people during my working life who have had multiple sclerosis. It is a very challenging and difficult disease to live with, and I really hope that through medical research and more effort we can work on finding a cure. I look forward to participating in that swimming challenge. All the proceeds will be going towards finding a cure and helping people living with MS to have a better quality of life.