Trish MS Glitz & Glamour Ball

The Trish MS Research Foundation’s Trish MS Glitz & Glamour Ball, as well as being an entertaining evening, shone a light on the remarkable research progress over the past twenty plus years since the launch of the Foundation and the gave a window into the future for people living with multiple sclerosis and those who will be diagnosed in the future.

Some of the members of the Foundation’s honorary Scientific Research Committee, Professor Michael Barnett, Professor Graeme Stewart, Professor Helmut Butzkueven and A/Prof Stephen Reddel, were joined by Professor Heinz Wiendl all the way from Germany, as well as Professor Gilles Guillemin, Dr Steven Petratos, A/Prof Fabienne Brilot-Turville and Dr Grant Parnell.

“We were blessed to have all these eminent MS scientists attend our Ball. We are very grateful to each of them, as well as all the other wonderful people who supported our Trish MS Glitz & Glamour Ball in so many ways,” Trish’s Dad Roy Langsford said. “So many very special people and extremely generous, big-hearted Trish Sponsors, donors and supporters contributed to a terrific evening and to the significant funds raised for important, high-quality, peer-reviewed MS Research Projects.”

Our Ball was led brilliantly by Channel 7’s Johanna Griggs AM who did an expert, very professional job as Celebrity MC, creating warmth and love in the Ballroom. Johanna and Better Homes and Gardens went to extraordinary lengths to ensure she was in Sydney in time for our Ball. Two days prior to our Ball, Johanna was flown by helicopter from a ship where she was doing a shoot, enabling her to catch connecting flights and arrive in Sydney on the Saturday of our Ball. Our heartfelt gratitude Johanna – way, way ‘above and beyond’.

Special appreciation to DMC Digital for again producing the enthralling Video Presentation pro bono. The Video Presentation featured Melbourne-based Professor Helmut Butzkueven and Dr Steven Petratos. Dr Petratos said, “It is an exciting time and there are new biological therapies, new small molecule therapies that are on the way and this particularly is to address the unmet medical need of patients living with MS for long periods of time and particularly those with progressive MS”.

Guests at our Ball were treated to another memorable speech by the Foundation’s valued Patron Dr Brendan Nelson AO, who has supported the Trish Foundation since inception, making a significant contribution in extremely valued, immeasurable ways.

One of the highlights of the evening was the awarding of the 2022 Trish MS Research Award, which was awarded to Judy and Frank Fabrizio, Red Hill Estate. Judy and Frank have very significantly supported the Trish MS Research Foundation for over 10 years and again this year donated all the wine our guests enjoyed.

Our Ball also featured an enthralling, informative interview conducted by Professor Graeme Stewart who interviewed Professor Michael Barnett and Professor Heinz Wiendl giving valuable insight into progress in MS research over the past 20 years and unmet needs.

“The reality is that MRI has transformed the way we not only diagnose the disease but monitor it and also treat it,” Professor Barnett said. “I have been blessed to see the journey in MS therapy evolve. Managing our patients is a much more positive experience now than it was 20 years ago when we had such limited options that we could offer our patients.”

Professor Wiendl gave a snap-shot into the future. “There are two major unmet needs. To be able to tell the individual how exactly the disease journey will evolve in light of much more options. The biggest problem we are currently trying to solve is the neurodegenerative element. Not every attack against the central nervous system will recover. How can we improve that? How can we avoid that? This is the two key focus areas.”

Fantastic performances by acclaimed soprano Toni Powell accompanied by Pani Karamanos on trumpet, the surprise operatic performance of The Undercover Entertainers and Jellybean Jam, who had the Ballroom rocking, made major contributions to the fun and enjoyment of our Ball, as well as the accomplished performance of the principal musicians of The Modest Orchestra who entertained guests during pre-dinner drinks.

Guests very generously made donations towards a Trish Translational Research Project Grant which will commence January 2023. Trish Translational Research Project Grants must demonstrate direct relevance for the prevention and/or reversal of disability in MS and must also demonstrate a clear, feasible pathway for clinical implementation, so the prospect of far-reaching impact. An announcement regarding the successful Applicants will be made before the end of the year.

A truly uplifting part of the evening was the presence of the inspirational Jen Willis. Jen is embarking on a 51-day expedition to the Himalayas where she will summit Mera Peak (6476m) and then the spectacular and technical mountain, Ama Dablam (6812m) to raise money for the Trish MS Research Foundation, MS Australia and the Forum for the Welfare of Himalayan Children. Having MS has motivated Jen to realise her childhood dream of becoming a mountaineer, and through this amazing adventure by raising funds to help others. The well-deserved ovation given to Jen in the Ballroom demonstrates the mammoth task she is undertaking.

Trish’s Mum Carol Langsford, Chair of the Foundation expressed her heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of the evening and the funds raised for high-quality MS Research Projects, specifically Trish Translational Research Project Grants.

“Year after year our Ball continues to raise much needed funds for MS research. We are passionate about contributing to solving progressive MS and I continue to be blown away by the generosity of our Sponsors, our Corporate VIP tables, our donors and supporters. The expert, pro bono contribution of Johanna Griggs, our Patron Brendan Nelson’s exceptional contribution and the outstanding support of so very many others really means the world to us. Our volunteer team is truly thankful for the extremely valued support we continue to receive.”

“We are incredibly blessed to receive awesome support from so many passionate, generous, wonderful people, Corporations and organisations to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude.”