In honour of my beloved mum

When my mum Jude was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), it changed our families lives forever.

We lost our beautiful Mum in 2012, so I am channeling my grief into good; I am determined to help others who live with MS, and support research to find new treatments and a cure.

“MS is something so incredibly close to my heart. I’ve been involved with raising money for MS for close to 20 years. It was something I decided to do when my Mum was diagnosed. At that time, there was so little known about the disease,” remembers Bek.

Back then, there were no treatments available for MS. Not one. People like my Mum Jude were simply told they’d have to let the disease run its course.

For me, that simply wasn’t good enough. I became a passionate volunteer and began fundraising for MS research.

“I wanted to do as much as I could. I have volunteered in both Tassie and Qld over the years. I volunteered at the MS Nursing Home in Brisbane for four years and sadly lost a very close client to MS during that period, Rowe. A beautiful Mum with two young boys. I also participated in several events to raise funds for MS including the MS Moon Walk, MS Mud Runs and the Point to Pinnacle – to name just a few! I also do individual fundraising events every year for World MS Month in May and have my own MS Page on Facebook. ‘Bek’s Help Fight MS. Raising awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis’.

“I’ve also previously had the pleasure of running the MS Peer Support Group in Hobart South, and met some truly amazing people,” said Bek.

I have seen great progress in care and treatment for people with MS and I want that to continue – for the sake of people like my beautiful mum.

Bek Thorpe

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Over the past 20 years, donations from people like Bek have funded breakthrough research and helped improve the quality of life for Australians with MS. It’s working! A person diagnosed with MS today has access to more and better treatments than Bek’s mum did. There is also more support for carers and families.

But the job is far from done, and Bek is determined to keep pushing. She continues to raise money for MSopens in new tab in honour of her mum. She wants to see a future where MS no longer has power over people’s lives. Where nobody has anything to fear from an MS diagnosis.

“MS is my passion. As long as I am around, I will continue to raise awareness and funds towards a cure!” says Bek

Bek has dedicated her life to helping people with MS, and there’s a way she can continue making a powerful difference even after she’s gone – by including MS in her Will.

If you’d like information about including MS in your Will, email our Gift in Wills Manager Lauraopens in new tab at futureplanning@ms.org.au or phone 1800 443 867.