UPDATE: Dad and I successfully completed our trek to Everest Base Camp on 5th October 2022. I want to say a huge thank you to everybody who has donated and supported my campaign.

Hi everyone! Thanks for taking the time to check out my campaign raising awareness of Multiple Sclerosis and raising funds to put towards valuable research.

My journey with MS began in 2014, when at the age of 16 I became one of the 25,000 people in Australia and 2.8 million people across the world who live with Multiple Sclerosis – an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. Whilst there are many medications which help stabilise or limit disease progression, there is currently no cure.

I’ve always been a fit and active person, and this became even more important to me since being diagnosed. Unfortunately earlier this year I struggled with a prolonged relapse which involved tingling, numbness and burning sensations in my body, difficulties walking and controlling the muscles in my hands.

As I started to recover, I wanted to set a personal and physical challenge for myself that I could work towards. I figured what better challenge than trekking to Everest Base Camp! I’m very excited to be travelling to Nepal this September with my Dad to complete the trek, and I wanted to use this opportunity to raise awareness about MS and its impacts.

I’ve been a Peer Support Mentor and volunteer with MS Australia since 2017, supporting and empowering teens and young people who are newly diagnosed or may be struggling with a relapse. I’ve always had the mentality that being diagnosed with MS, especially at a young age, doesn’t mean life is over – it’s just an opportunity to overcome new challenges.

As I embark on the trek to base camp, I want to empower other people living with MS to pursue their goals and dreams and also acknowledge the many people living with MS who are facing immense physical and mental difficulties as the disease progresses over time.

The funds raised for ‘Kiss Goodbye to MS’ – MS Research Australia’s national fundraising campaign – will go towards accelerating Australian research into MS. Thank you for taking the time to support my campaign! Love, Shannan