Four leaf clover campaign with help from schools

Press, 13 March 1987, Page 9

Four leaf clover campaign with help from schools

Friday, March 13, Black Friday, will prove to be Lucky Friday for many people in Christchurch and Ashburton because on that day students from Aranui High School, Hornby High School and Methven High School will be offering Lucky Four Leaf Clovers in exchange for a $1 donation. The major portion of the money donated will go

towards helping the multiple sclerosis society in its work with the 420 people affected either by multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease who are members of the Society in Canterbury. The schools will, of course, have a share in the proceeds. Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system which af-

fects mainly young adults and which often causes enormous disruption to their life because of its unpredictability and inconsistency. Symptoms of the disease can be many and varied and often differ from person to person both in character and severity. Typical symptoms are temporary disturbance of

vision, loss of co-ordina-tion and balance, difficulty walking, loss of sensation (numbness) and heightened sensation and difficulty with bladder function. Because the disease affects younger people who are often on the threshold of their careers and married life, sometimes having young families, the amount of stress and distress generated is great. Little is known about the cause of multiple sclerosis and there is, as yet, no cure.

Treatment is principally for the symptoms and only tentative steps are being taken in relation to possible techniques to slow the progress of the disease.

Parkinson’s disease, named after Dr James Parkinson who first described it in 1817, is another neurological disorder which manifests itself in stiffness, slowing of movement, tremor, shuffling gait and disturbance of posture. These symptoms are caused by a chemical (dopamine) deficiency in the part of the brain which is responsible for transmitting messages through the nervous system. People aged over fifty are most at risk from this condition; in fact, 1 per cent of the population in this age group are affected by it. Often the onset of the disease is gradual and insidious so that the person affected by it is unaware of it and only registers concern when the disease is well established.

Like multiple sclerosis, there is at present no cure for it and no-one is certain what causes the

chemical deficiency. However, there are drugs which can be administered which not only alleviated the symptoms but help to slow the progress of the disease. For both conditions, there is an enormous research programme world-wide both for treatment and cure. The research is complex and often frustrating but there are signs that we are getting nearer to the answers, although it will inevitably be a considerable time before

proven and safe therapies are available. Meanwhile, the Multiple sclerosis society of Canterbury has as its principal objective support through education, in-

formation, counselling and exercise of people who are affected by these conditions; this includes their families and those closest to them. The society, through its full-time staff, a director, social worker/physiotherapist, part-time secretary, fund raiser and others who help from time to time in specific areas, endeavours to offer the highest standard of service. It is aware, however, that there are many gaps in the service, largely because with over 420 people there just aren’t enough hours in the day or, more correctly, enough money in the funds to enable them to employ people with the level of expertise needed. That is why this appeal for funds is so important if the society is to con-

tinue its work and hopefully help to improve the quality of life for its members.