With the MS Read-A-Thon, every book you read takes you on a new adventure and helps support Canadians living with multiple sclerosis.
Whether you’re joining through your school, participating as a family, rallying your community group or setting out solo — this is a reading quest for everyone.
Director of Community Fundraising for We Challenge MS Amanda Zamperin says the initiative is a fun and flexible literacy-based fundraiser that encourages kids to read, while making a difference for people affected by MS.
“Children or students will set a personal reading goal, and they’ll ask their friends or family to support them with donations. It really helps build their lifelong love of reading — while helping kids understand the impact they can have in their community,” adds Zamperin. “Readers of all levels are welcome.”
According to Zamperin, the initiative is fun for young readers right from the start. “When they register, they get to choose an avatar and as they hit fundraising milestones, the avatar goes on this virtual journey.”
Readers can also earn prizes along the way, Zamperin notes. “We have sticker sheets, book bags and a cute panda plushie this year.”
Next year, the Read-A-Thon celebrates its 50th anniversary, which is quite a legacy.
“For me, I participated when I was young and it’s a neat opportunity for it to be full circle because now my kids are participating,” adds Zamperin.
This year’s goal is to raise $100,000, but back in its heyday, the Read-A-Thon was prevalent in most schools and raised a lot more annually.
“I think it’s kind of changed where it lived in the calendar over the course of the past 50 years. Sometimes it was in the spring and sometimes it ran once every season per year,” says Zamperin. “The fundraising goals and results have really changed over the course of the past 50 years.”
Funds raised from the MS Read-A-Thon support the work of MS Canada, including groundbreaking research, support programs for people living with MS and advocacy efforts to improve quality of life.
The Read-A-Thon isn’t just a fundraiser — it’s youth leadership and action.
“Students will learn empathy, goal setting, the fun of fundraising, how empowering that can be and community impact. Schools can actually build spirit around literacy, which is really important for schools. Families can also have meaningful ways to give back together, so really creating that culture of family philanthropy — which I really love for my family,” Zamperin explains.
This year, a new educator workbook was introduced, which includes fun and educational activities and modules for teachers to use directly in their classrooms.
“To weave into their curriculum because we want to make it easy for teachers. It’s a great way to engage students on things, including giving back and community impact and what MS is in a very child-friendly way,” Zamperin shares.
Zamperin reminds readers the program is open to everyone. “Schools, classrooms, homeschool groups, families and individual readers. We also have a lot of adult readers who choose to participate. Really tying in that nostalgia from when they may have participated as a young person.”
Read-A-Thon, Zamperin notes, is an all-encompassing event. “Really simple and inclusive. It’s fantastic to bring that younger generation into making this positive impact in the world.”
To register, visit online at mscanada.ca. The winter reading period runs until Mar. 9.
