Reading event brings D’Arcy to book

DISCOVER the joys of reading and help a good cause - that’s the message to boys and girls at the start of MS Readathon 2005.

“I love to read; it’s great,” said rugby ace Gordon D’Arcy, who launched the month-long charity reading marathon in Dublin yesterday.

“My parents ingrained it in me when we were kids. We had everything from The Famous Five right up to Roald Dahl,” said the Ireland and Leinster centre. “James and The Giant Peach was one of my favourite books.

“I’m reading a book at the moment on Vince Lombardi, the famous American football coach, who changed a ‘nothing’ football team into one of the greatest teams. He’s an inspiration.”

While more girls than boys typically take part in the MS Readathon, it is hoped Gordon’s involvement in the 18th edition, which is sponsored by Specsavers, will send a message to boys that reading is for everyone.

The sponsored event encourages children to have fun reading their favourite books. All funds raised are used to provide services for the 6,000 people with MS in Ireland as well as to fund research to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis.

Over €1.1 million was raised last year when 32,000 school children from six to 16 years read 500,000 books.

MS Ireland chief executive Gordon Love said: “Sign up has been going well this year but we need one final last push to help us break all previous records.

* Contact: www.ms-society.ie or phone [phone].