Multiple Sclerosis is a debilitating disease of the central nervous system. The myelin sheathing (fatty tissue surrounding the nerve fibres) of sufferers is damaged and becomes scarred. The impact of this disease is impairment of the impulse-conducting abilities of the nerves themselves. The consequences and severity of this impaired conduction varies from person to person, with the potential for disruption to motor, sensory and even cognitive functioning.The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated in 2009 that 0.1% of Australians suffer from MS. The causes of MS are currently unknown but it is suspected that environmental and genetic factors could both be involved. The majority of sufferers are diagnosed in their early adult years, with three-quarters of diagnosed individuals in Australia being women.There is no known cure for MS.Today is Kiss Goodbye to MS Day. This international event is the world’s biggest fundraising event for research into the disease. MS Australia is hoping you will wear red lipstick to raise awareness of this disease and donate to their appeal to help them find a cure. If you would like to donate to the cause, you can do so by visiting this website: https://kissgoodbyetomsglobal.org/The 31^st of May is also international MS Day. Therapeutic Gardens will be featuring a blog on the effects of MS and how this impacts on the activity of gardening, so stay tuned.