Best-selling children’s author and illustrator from Tsawwassen, Ashley Spires, is honoured to have been selected as an ambassador for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Canada’s annual “Read-a-Thon” fundraiser.
This is Spires’ second year in a row of being asked to be a Read-a-Thon ambassador.
“It was a no-brainer for me because someone in my life is affected by MS very severely, and so, of course I want to help in any way I can,” she said.
The MS Read-a-Thon is a tradition of more than 40 years for the society, where they encourage kids to read as many books as they can during the month of February while raising funds to support those in their community impacted by the chronic autoimmune disease.
With only a week left before the campaign ends on Feb. 28, participating children, families and schools have raised more than $56,000 for the society.
All the money goes towards supporting programming for the MS community, mobilizing cure research and improving the quality of life for the more than 90,000 Canadians who live with MS.
“It’s absolutely wonderful. I can’t think of a better cause to be part of,” says Spires.
Last year, their fundraiser went digital, and this year, they’ve created an interactive website that allows kids to track their reading, customize their own avatars, earn badges as they reach fundraising milestones and much more.
The MS ambassadors, who also include David Bouchard, Mireille Messier and junior ambassador Ainara Alleyne, have been working to spread the word about the fundraiser on social media.
Spires is an author and illustrator of several award-winning children’s books, including The Most Magnificent Thing, Burt the Beetle Doesn’t Bite and the Binky the Space Cat series which was the inspiration for the animated television show on Treehouse and Netflix called Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe.
“This year, we have a goal of raising $150,000 through this event. By participating, you’re joining hundreds of children and families who are raising much-needed funds and making a difference in the lives of people impacted by MS, one book at a time,” said Kyla Arsenault, senior director of community fundraising for the MS Society of Canada.
If you’re interested in donating to the MS Read-a-Thon, see: https://www.msreadathon.ca/home.
