An MS READaTHON school visit & a mission to get kids reading!
Leaves dancing along the ground, a low autumn sun and readathon school visit in a small rural community. Every window in the classroom giving it's own beautiful view of the garden of Ireland. Second only to the 50 or so happy smiling little faces glowing up at me, ranging from Junior infants to second-class, school visits where I get to meet and talk to the children always gives MS a face along with a simplified means of explaining the MS READaTHON to these wonderful little people.
Firstly explaining what Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is through props & stories, ranging from drinking straws to jelly and ice cream from roadworks to sandwiches wrapped in cling film, using their world to tell the story of MS. On this visit we talked about books about fairies, dragons, trucks & lorries and how all people are just the same as us, whether we can or can't walk, talk, see or care for ourselves. On this occasion explaining how really really tired people with MS can be, simply like taking the batteries out of your favorite toy, one sweet little girl right in front of me expressed concern that her cat sleeps alot and could he have MS.
Having totally reassured her of all cat's laziness and willing to sleep most of the time, I left that school with a strong belief of the benefits of MS READaTHON school visits for the simplifying of explanations & also leaving the children with a practical awareness of what their reading and fundraising brings & gives to others.
Take care,
Elsie