MS and Readathon with Guest Blogger Orla Marron

Hi, I am Orla Marron, the MS Readathon ambassador. I am excited to share that I will be reading and fundraising from the 1st of November to the 15th of December. I will be doing this alongside my children, Kyle and Katie, and their classmates at St. Michael’s National School in Donaghmoyne, Co Monaghan.

By picking up a book, you will not only enjoy a great story, but you will also be helping to raise funds to support the 10,000+ people living with Multiple Sclerosis in Ireland. There is still plenty of time to join us and make a difference—register here: MS Readathon

You can read my story below or watch a short video here where I discuss my MS journey and the importance of the 2024 MS Readathon.

Orla Marron and her family sitting together on a sofa, looking at books. A window and a lamp are visible in the background

Previously, I loved to get lost in a book, but when I fell ill from MS, that changed. Then the only time I’d read was researching MS. But with lots of support and help from MS Ireland and the various resources they provide, I find myself now, seven years on, in a much better space. So, last New Year, I set myself a resolution to be a better role model for my kids in relation to reading—“Monkey-see, Monkey-do,” as they say.

To build on our New Year’s resolution, we will be taking part in this year’s Readathon. It’s a great motivation for us as a family, with the added bonus of raising essential funds for all the amazing work MS Ireland does to help and support people like me and the other 10,000 people in Ireland living with Multiple Sclerosis.

It’s still a work in progress, but we read together at bedtime and talk about what we are reading, which is lovely family time. Kyle recently got an award at school for reading the most books in a month. Katie, who is 9, loves to read and will get lost in her own world, which is beautiful to see; she has an amazing imagination. Both Kyle and Katie are very excited about doing the MS Readathon this year.

Kyle, who is 11, would rather play PlayStation, and to be honest, when I was trying to come to terms with my diagnosis, different treatments, and side effects, whatever made life easy was done, so I’d let him. But with lots of support and help from MS Ireland and the various resources they provide; I find myself now with the time and energy to get involved.

When I was diagnosed with MS, I’d compare it to being hit by a train. I love gardening and going to the gym, so when I endured a terrifying temporary blindness in my right eye, I reached out to MS Ireland during the darkest moments of my journey.

After suffering in silence for a couple of months, I went to a doctor where MS was diagnosed. The first year was a roller coaster. There were MRI scans, making decisions around treatments, and some very severe side effects that left me wondering where this was going. I attended physiotherapy and counselling sessions provided by MS Ireland. I’m so very grateful for these services and support. They helped get me through the worst part of my life.

Thanks to the services supplied by MS Ireland and medical treatment, I’m on a more positive path on my life’s journey. I would love to ensure that people know that there is help out there for them. MS is hard enough to live with, especially on the bad days—so it is important to know there is help and support available.

Orla


The views and opinions expressed here are those of individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of the information provided, the editor is not responsible for any error or inaccuracy contained herein.
If you have been affected by any of the content, please contact the MS Ireland Information Line on 0818 233 233

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