Irish authors are calling on children to get reading to raise money for people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The MS Readathon is a school-sponsored initiative that encourages students to read as many books as they can in a month. Last year more than 14,500 children took part in the event to raise funds for services for people with MS. This year’s reading month begins on October 10th.

Sarah Webb, Nicola Pierce and Sheila O’Flanagan are among the authors supporting the campaign.

Aoife Kirwan, who was diagnosed with MS in her final year of college and now advocates for young people with the condition, launched the readathon with her seven-year-old son Adam (above).

“As a mum, being a part of the MS Readathon is very important to me. Adam loves to read and because he knows exactly why raising money through things like the MS Readathon is important he is more interested – he wants to help people like me,” she said.

As part the campaign, people living with MS will visit local schools to help students understand the condition better.Schools can sign up to take part at msreadathon.ie.