Top reader: Isabella Williams with the books she read for the MS Readathon. Picture: Carlos Furtado
ISABELLA Williams, 11, has single-handedly helped her school in Riverstone to become NSW's top five fund-raising schools in the MS Readathon.
The only participant from St John's Primary School raised $2737 from about 90 sponsors for reading 63 books in a month.
"I enjoyed doing it as I love reading and helping people less fortunate than me in the community," she said.
"Some of the books included my favourites like Morris Gleitzman's Toad Away, Andy Griffiths' The Pencil of Doom and Roald Dahl's Matilda.
"I will encourage my classmates to participate in the event next year."
She was very pleased with her achievement as she raised just a modest $100 in last year's event.
School principal Miriam Bell said she hoped more of her 115 students would emulate Isabella's MS Readathon effort next year.
A spokeswoman for the MS Readathon said the top five fund-raising schools in NSW are Sydney Grammar School Edgecliff Preparatory, Paddington; All Saints Grammar, Belmore; Mowbray Primary School, Lane Cove; St John's Primary School, Riverstone; and Cranbrook Senior School, Bellevue Hill.
She said all children who completed the program would receive an e-certificate of appreciation signed by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the patron of the MS Readathon.
Chief executive officer Jim Carroll said funds raised would support essential services and programs for people living with MS such as physiotherapy, education and lifestyle programs, access to specialist MS nurses and respite care while also working towards funding research for a cure for this mystery illness.