MS Ireland’s reading superhero RED is asking children to sign up for this year’s MS READaTHON campaign. 2007 is the chance to be part of the 20th birthday of this annual sponsored read!
By joining in, not only will children all over the country be reading their favourite books in the space of a month (19th October –19th November) but they’ll also be raising money for the 7,000 people living with Multiple Sclerosis in Ireland.
Last year, more than 30,000 school children from 6 – 16 years old read a staggering 500,000 books and raised €1.2 million for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland…an outstanding achievement! The organisers hope this year will be the biggest and best ever for the MS READaTHON, in celebration of Ireland’s 20th year taking part in this global initiative!
Since the MS READaTHON started in Ireland in 1988, an average of 25,000 children and 710 schools have taken part each and every year, raising an amazing and much-needed €10 million for people living with MS.
The MS READaTHON is supported by lots of famous authors and sports personalities, like Gordon D’Arcy, Darren Shan, Jacqueline Wilson, Oisín McGann, Laura Woods and Cecelia Ahern.
Children can sign up individually to take part, and/or schoolteachers can sign their classes up. All children participating will receive an exciting thank you gift and Certificate of Appreciation, and will also have the chance to win hundreds of major prizes including a computer, a trip for two to see Manchester Utd play at Old Trafford, a portable DVD player and a road & track bicycle.
Schools can compete for the Winning Schools Trophies and for thousands of euros worth of books with which to update their school libraries. There are prizes for teachers and librarians too. In addition, ten per cent of the money raised in each school can be kept to buy books or reading aids for the school. A new prize this year is the chance for a school to win a brand new top of the range computer plus a digital camera.
HOW TO SIGN UP
The sign up period begins on 10th September. Schools can sign up by filling out the entry forms that they will all receive in September. Individuals can pick up entry forms from their local library or bookshop.
For more information visit www.msreadathon.ie or phone 1850 650 950.