Every night, just before bed, five-year-old Teddy curls up with a book. Sometimes it’s on the couch beside his mum, Mel. Sometimes it’s next to his dad, Chris - who might be resting, conserving what energy he has left for the day. But no matter where they sit, reading together is something they can always share. 

For Teddy, it’s simple. He’s reading to help people like his dad. 

Chris was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) when he was just 20. Now, at 40, MS shapes nearly every part of his daily life. Some days, it’s using a walking stick. Other days, it’s his motorised chair. But the hardest part isn’t always visible. It’s the fatigue

Not the kind you shake off with a good night’s sleep. It’s a deep, bone-heavy exhaustion that can arrive without warning and take everything with it.

“It makes planning anything really hard,” Chris says. “Even simple moments with Teddy -you don’t always know if your body will cooperate.” So as a family, they’ve learned to adapt. Plans stay flexible. Outings are shorter. Rest is non-negotiable. Mel often carries the invisible load of keeping everything steady when MS interrupts. It’s not the life they imagined - but it’s the one they’re building together. 

For Teddy, this is just Dad. 

He’s never known anything different. He knows Dad uses a walking stick. He knows sometimes Dad needs to stop and rest. He knows that energy is precious.  And he knows he can help. 

This August, alongside thousands of other kids across Australia, Teddy will take part in MS Readathon - something he’s done every year since he was a baby. This year feels special. It’s his first year of school, and the MS Readathon will line up with Book Week. He’ll be reading with his classmates, proudly sharing why it matters to him. 

“Because it helps people like my Daddy.” 

For Chris and Mel, MS Readathon is more than a fundraiser. t’s one of the few things they can count on. In a life where MS makes so much uncertain energy levels, plans, even tomorrow -reading together is something steady. A tradition that doesn’t ask too much of Chris physically, but gives so much back emotionally. 

“For that month, we slow down together,” Mel says. “We escape into stories. It’s something MS can’t take away from us.” 

But the impact doesn’t stop at their living room. Funds raised through MS Readathon help families like theirs every day in real, practical ways - through support services, resources, and connection to a community that understands what living with MS actually looks like. Because MS isn’t just a diagnosis - it’s the daily adjustments, the unpredictability, the moments missed, and the quiet resilience required to keep going. And having support makes all the difference. “Fundraising gives us hope,” Mel says. “Hope for better treatments, and hope that we’re not facing this alone.” 

This August, when Teddy opens his next book, he’s doing more than reading. He’s helping create a future where families like his have more support, more understanding, and more moments together. One story at a time.