Kiss Goodbye to MS is celebrating its biggest year yet!
🎆🎉$2.5 million raised for MS research! 🎉🎆
Looking back on what has been the biggest year for Kiss Goodbye to MS ever, let’s take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate your endless passion, determination and enthusiasm to raise life-changing funds for multiple sclerosis research – you have swept us off our feet!
Your incredibly hard work raised a record-breaking $2.5 million for MS research in 2019 – Thank you!
Historically, Kiss Goodbye to MS has been run as a “do-it-yourself” fundraising campaign only, encouraging the MS community to raise funds for MS research with their activity of choice.
This year, we decided it was time for a change! We took a leap of faith and revamped our beloved campaign to raise substantially more funds for vital MS research, fast-tracking our way to Kiss Goodbye to MS. It’s still the same campaign that we all know and love, just with a little more attitude and determination. True to form, you embraced it!
The May 50K was born
This new virtual fitness and fundraising challenge encouraged people beyond the MS community to raise funds for MS research. Over 9,200 people took on the challenge and left their limits behind by running or walking 50 kilometres throughout the month of May. We’re still pinching ourselves, as together you logged 474,575 kilometres and raised over $2.1 million for life-changing MS research! An outstanding accomplishment that will make a long-lasting difference to the 25,600 Australians living with MS and the future landscape of MS.
The Great Wall of China Trek
Another highlight of the year was our first ‘fundraising adventure’, which saw 19 dedicated supporters travel to China and trek the Great Wall. Our passionate team challenged themselves, made unforgettable memories, overcame every obstacle thrown their way and collectively raised over $70,000 for MS research. Registrations for our next ‘fundraising adventure’ are already open, with Tuscany announced as the next adventure destination! However, the China trek will certainly go down as one of the most special experiences in Kiss Goodbye to MS history.
A global movement
Kiss Goodbye to MS continued to inspire people across the world to join the movement and come together to raise funds for MS research. Our Australian campaign was again celebrated in 13 countries, enabling MS researchers to continue their invaluable work to help find better treatments and a cure for MS. Watching the international efforts and funds raised increase in 2019, we know that it’s no longer about hope. We know that our combined efforts will stop and reverse MS.
A huge thank you to the Kiss Goodbye to MS community
These are just a small selection of our 2019 highlights. We see and appreciate everything you do for MS research. Thank you for taking on The May 50K, holding fundraising events, donating, sharing your #KissGoodbyeToMS snaps on social media, purchasing merchandise, attending events, trekking the Great Wall of China, donating your time, skills or products and volunteering. We are in awe of your support!
Every dollar you raised will help MS Research Australia to continue funding the brightest MS researchers and most innovative projects in Australia. Every project we fund could lead to the next breakthrough for the prevention, better treatments and a cure for MS.
Thank you for an unforgettable 2019 which exceeded all our expectations! We can wholeheartedly say that this year will always have a very special place in our hearts.
Stay tuned for 2020 – we’ve got even bigger plans for The May 50K and are looking forward to taking on Tuscany with you. And as always, we also have a few surprises in store!