MS & ME

12/08/2021

I know I haven't posted on this page in quite some time, but I'm really proud to announce that I am officially Kiss Goodbye to MS's and MS Research Australia's latest charity ambassador.

I really hope to inspire others with my story and raise more awareness around the importance of trying to find that all important cure for MS through lifechanging research.

All I could ever hope for is that MS Research progresses quicker than my disease.

Mel x

A bundle of positivity and a heart of gold – that’s our Kiss Goodbye To MS Ambassador Melissa Quirk in a nutshell! 💖

Melissa was 27 years old when she was diagnosed with MS. She first noticed a change in her walk and had difficulties putting one foot in front of the other.

When more symptoms appeared, she decided to visit her doctor who immediately referred her to the emergency department.

“I was admitted on Thursday. Friday morning, I had an MRI and by Friday afternoon I was diagnosed with MS.”

Since her diagnosis, Melissa has focused her energy on living a healthy and fulfilled life and is determined to keep her MS at bay. 💪🏼

But that's not all! Since 2016, she has embarked on numerous fundraising initiatives and raised over $20,000 for MS research, volunteers for MS research activities and studies whenever possible, and was also one of the models in The May 50K 2021 photoshoot!

Melissa – we're OVER THE MOON to have you as part of our wonderful family of ambassadors! 😍

Read Melissa’s full story here ➡️ https://bit.ly/3jHpQYp

04/05/2021

This is it! We are four days into May and I've been putting in the hard yards with my walking. So far I've clocked up 19.9km. I know that doesn't sound like much but this is huge for me.

Obviously all of this wouldn't be worth it without your support! Please click on the link to donate so we can all Kiss Goodbye to MS together... forever!

I'm taking part in The May 50K this month to support research into multiple sclerosis.

27/04/2021

We are only three days away from May, and because I like to leave things to the very last minute I'm here to recruit team members for this years May 50k!

Whose up for the challenge? I'd love to get 10 team members who are keen to fundraise for MS Research and set their own walking or running challenge in May. You know you want too...

I'm planning to set a walking goal so all fitness levels are definitely welcome.

More information coming soon on how to support with a donation and another exciting project which I've got up my sleeve.

Click below to join me!

We're taking part in The May 50K to support research into multiple sclerosis.

02/06/2020

And that’s a wrap on and the results are in!

I have to acknowledge my AMAZING team and every single person who donated to MS Research 🤩

Back in the beginning I was hoping to personally raise $1,000, and thought it would be awesome to recruit 3 team members who could maybe raise $500 collectively. Here is how we finished up...

⭐️ 16 people joined my team
⭐️ Simon smashed his running goal covering 53km
⭐️ I raised a huge $1,863
⭐️ Together as a team we logged over 1,200km
⭐️ The team raised a PHENOMENAL $7,505
⭐️ Out of the 3,194 teams participating in the event we ranked 57th
⭐️ Entire campaign has raised over $6,500,000 and counting

Thank you never feels like enough to express my gratitude, so here’s to my superstar team 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Lauren Liane, Kym Eley, Kristen Mantellato, Rhiannon Leigh, Amy Louise, Kirrilly Macdermid, Morgan Elder, Melissa Walley, Lucy Murrie, Mary Rose, Ben Murrie, Nicole Bentley, Rebecca Farthing, Georgina Pulo, Kate Power, Belinda Appleby, Doreen Murrie, Andrew Alice and Leah Bokey-Grant, Michael James.

And finally thank you to everyone who donated and raised awareness, your help is literally life changing to me.

Bring on 2021 😉

https://www.themay50k.org/fundraisers/Mel

Kiss Goodbye to MS - Australia MS Research Australia

30/05/2020

💋 WORLD MS DAY 💋

To every single person who showed me love today, thank you! From vegan red velvet cupcakes, a trip to Balmoral, red lippy pictures and beautiful bunches of flowers - I’ve definitely felt the love ❤️

As the end of May approaches it isn’t too late to help support me in accelerating MS research 🧬

Here is the link: https://www.themay50k.org/s/4987/27676

30/04/2020

I need you in my team!

Tomorrow is May, which means it's officially time for ! I know I've left things to the very last minute but here is the chance to do something spontaneous whilst you are hauled up socially isolating...

However, I feel like I need to level with you. I almost didn't sign up this year. It's unlike me to pass up an opportunity to raise money for MS Research but the truth is my MS has been giving my body and my mind considerable grief this past month. It's hard for me to talk about, let alone write about. So I apologise to everyone who has reached out to me and didn't receive a response back. It's hard knowing what to say sometimes, especially when I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

So this is where you come in, I'd love you to join my team - walk or run a distance of your choice and find a couple of people to throw some money in your direction and I'd be forever grateful!

Big thank you to my very first team member Lauren Liane for jumping on board before she even knew I was setting up a team. Lauren participated last year and is back for round 2!

Any questions please ask. For anyone who is excited to just sponsor me I'll be posting more details about that very soon.

❤️❤️❤️

We're taking part in The May 50K to support research into multiple sclerosis.

16/02/2020

For some of you this might be one of those annoying articles you need to pay $1 to read, or maybe you'll be able to read it for free, or maybe you should just buy tomorrow's Daily Telegraph or Herald Sun so you can see my pretty face in hard copy.

Always proud to represent MS'ers and the MS Research community and I'm equally excited to see this new research project garnering national attention.

Mel x

PS. This drug is different to the one I'm currently trialling, how cool that there is another drug which looks at targeting damage repair!

22/01/2020

There is a lot going on in these two pictures 😅

This is a throwback to December when I was jumping through hoops (I literally would have done any test they asked of me) in hopes of being accepted into an MS medical trial.

The trial focuses on remyelination of existing lesions. In other words, aids in the healing of the scars on my nerves which my body can’t heal on its own. If this med works, it could potentially mean a significant improvement in my everyday life.

The happy ending here is that I have formally been accepted on the trial!!!! Great result seeing as I needed to meet a very specific criteria, and that they are only recruiting 150 people globally.

Watch this space...

Mel x

PS. This is why donating to MS research is soooo important to me 🥰

15/01/2020

Finished up my infusion and absolutely crashed out on the lounge! First time I’ve been hit with such exhaustion, very strange. Although I’m lucky to have been on Tysabri for this long without feeling this way before. It better just be a once off... 😰