Bookworms of all ages across the Eurobodalla have books stacked for the 30th annual MS Readathon.
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However, Eurobodalla Library Services will not be supporting the fundraising event this year.
So far, 54 primary school and high school students across the Eurobodalla have registered to participate in this year’s fundraising event.
Eurobodalla Shire Council recently commented that the three shire libraries’ next focus to promote literacy would be on the inaugural Mayor’s Writing Competition, which will open for entries in the first week of July.
Eurobodalla Mayor Fergus Thomson said the competition aimed to encourage young people aged between five and 16 years to write and illustrate.
“With this in mind, the libraries will be offering a number of writing workshops for young people that will provide helpful tips on story development, structure and how illustration can be used to enhance their stories,” Cr Thomson said.
The mayor will announce the winners during Children’s Book Week, from August 24 to 28.
MS Readathon organisers have made a few changes for this year’s special reading-fest, including extending the time for reading and allowing adults to participate.
MS Readathon state manager Anne Foubister said that instead of having only the month of June to read as many books as possible, participants can read for a 30-day period from June 1 to August 31.
“With our 30th anniversary year, we would like to break our participation record,” she said.
Ms Foubister said that, for the first time, more than 500 adults across Australia would also take part in the activity.
Each year, Multiple Sclerosis Australia (MSA) operates Australia’s leading reading-based fundraising program, the MS Readathon, which encourages children to read books, learn about multiple sclerosis, and raise funds to help people living with the disease.
The MS Readathon has raised millions of dollars for people living with MS with the 2009 target being $5 million and 100,000 participants.
The money raised by readathon participants helps the MS Society to provide services to assist people living with MS such as physiotherapy, access to specialist MS nurses and respite care and to also fund research for a cure for this mystery illness.
To register or find out more information, log on to www.msreadathon.org.au.
