Multiple Sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves.  Multiple Sclerosis results in nerve damage and this leads to a disruption of communication between the brain and the body.

Multiple sclerosis causes many different symptoms, including vision loss, pain, fatigue, and impaired coordination. The symptoms, severity, and duration can vary from person to person. Some people may be symptom-free for most of their lives, while others can have severe, chronic symptoms that never go away.

If physiotherapy and medication that suppresses the immune system can help with symptoms and slow disease progression, currently there is no cure for MS.

In 2021, there were 33,000 Australians living with MS.  Hannah is one of them.  She is 26 and lives in Sydney. Hannah was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2018 at the age of 21 when she noticed she was having difficulty walking.

Unfortunately, Hannah’s condition has very rapidly progressed. Today, she is unable to walk unassisted and she uses a wheelchair to get around. She has lost nearly all function and mobility in both her arms and legs and requires 24 hours care from her team of support workers. Hannah requires assistance with almost every task from rolling over in bed at night to scratching her nose. She has been unable to work since 2020 due to her condition.

Hannah has undergone most of the limited treatments available in Australia for MS. These treatments had no effect on her, some even worsening her condition. She now has no further treatment options left in Australia and she is looking at overseas for medical treatment.  But she needs to raise funds to get treatment overseas, so she came up with an idea for fundraising.

Beth interviewed Hannah about the treatment and the fundraising event.