MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS APPEAL ON FRIDAY

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32053, 30 July 1969, Page 16

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS APPEAL ON FRIDAY

It was hoped to raisd considerably more than the S4OOO collected last year when the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canterbury held its annual street appeal on Friday, the secretary-field officer (Mrs J. Sawers) said yesterday. The money would be used for the welfare of persons suffering from multiple sclerosis, a crippling neuro-mus-cular disorder for which neither cause nor cure is known. There were more than 80 patients helped by the society in Christchurch, and the only treatment that could be used until a cure was discovered was physiotherapy, Mrs Sawers said. The disorder usually affected young adults. The society supplied many things not available to a patient on social security. Grocery hampers were provided twice-a-year and lunch-

eons and social evenings were held frequently. Financial assistance was given where necessary and wheelchairs and physiotherapy equipment were provided, she said “We hope to go ahead at the end of this year with a national research project into multiple sclerosis and part of the money raised in the appeal will probably be used for this," Mrs Sawers added. “A tremendous amount of research is being done overseas, of course, but because of its size New Zealand would be well suited for such a project.” More than 500 collectors were expected to take part in Friday’s street appeal dhd there would be the usual stall in Cathedral Square, Mrs ■ Sawers said. During the week | there would be displays in shop windows.