The group, Foundation 5 Million (F5m), are all people with MS), and their families and friends. Their project was based on the vision that if 2,000 people with MS each organise an event, and each raises on average $2,500, then $5 million could be raised.

F5m was the brainchild of the late Ian Ballard, a tv executive who also had MS. He said that the F5m model “puts a whole different emphasis on fundraising, and you feel part of a global solution. Many people who live with the disease remain very capable and continue to make an active contribution to today’s community as well as tomorrow’s health.”

Ian sadly did not live to see the culmination of his unstinting effort and enthusiasm.

Events organised under the F5m banner ranged from gala dinners to quiz nights, garden shows to athletic marathons, cycle rides, canal boat journeys, raffles and garage sales.

The money they raised has already been put to good use. They selected research areas, with the help of MS Research Australia. One such development this year was the results from ANZgene, a consortium which revealed important insights into genetic susceptibility to MS as well as the environmental impact, for example, of Vitamin D.

The team now hope to roll-out the idea around the world. Team member Stewart McLennan said, “Applying the same formula across Europe and North America as we have in Australia could yield hundreds of millions of dollars for MS research.”

> Visit the F5m website
> Read about the research funded by F5m