Jemma Barsby is an Australian professional cricketer and a passionate campaigner for Multiple Sclerosis, a disease she was diagnosed with at 19 years old. She’s leading Whack MS for 6, a fundraising initiative to help advance promising research and treatments.
Giving has been a big part of my life. I started playing cricket through community sport in Brisbane when I was seven years old, and it was one of the best environments to learn what giving really is. Cricket teaches you that you can’t do anything alone. You rely on teammates backing you up, volunteers who make junior sport possible, and families who give you every opportunity to show up and play. Those early experiences of generosity shaped how I give today and taught me that giving isn’t just about money — it’s about time, energy, encouragement, and showing up when it matters.
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at 19 years old, and my world changed overnight. I didn’t know what it was or what it meant for my cricket. It hit hard, but it also gave me a new understanding of vulnerability — what it feels like to need support, to not have all the answers, and to realise your future suddenly comes with unknowns.
There’s currently no cure for MS; that’s a sentence that stays with you. And while it’s one thing to live with it personally, what really drives me is thinking about the thousands of Australians who wake up to the reality of living with this every day. I’m fortunate to have a platform, and if my voice can raise awareness, get research funded, spark a donation, or even just make one person feel less alone, then that means something.
One of the challenges with MS is that it’s a hidden disease, because many people are afraid to talk about it for fear of discrimination. I want to start this conversation because the more we talk about it, the more comfortable people will feel to be open about it and hopefully it will help businesses become more inclusive environments as well.
Recently, I learned about NeuOrphan, an Australian biotech developing a new oral therapy designed to repair damaged nerve fibres and protect them from further immune attack. It’s in the early stages, but it’s incredibly promising. There are currently 19 FDA-approved MS drugs, but none that directly repair the nerve damage that leads to long-term disability. This treatment could be life-changing for people living with MS, but reaching clinical trials requires significant funding and momentum.
Turning a difficult challenge into purpose is important to me, and that’s what sparked Whack MS for 6. It brings cricket and community together to back this groundbreaking research — the same way I’ve seen the cricket community rally around teammates time and again. We’re inviting Australians to chip in small amounts to help raise the funds to drive this research into clinical trials. It’s based on the simple belief that many people giving small amounts can create enormous change.
But my giving isn’t just about raising funds. It’s about using my voice, sharing my story openly, speaking about MS whenever I can, connecting people to the cause, and keeping the conversation alive. For me, giving is time, leadership and courage. It’s standing up and saying this matters — and hopefully inspiring others to join in.
I’ve learned that when you put everything on the line and show up with vulnerability, people meet you with incredible kindness. Since launching Whack MS for 6, I’ve heard so many personal stories from people living with MS and their family members. It’s reminded me that connection and empathy are powerful.
I’ve also learned just how willing people are to help when you share your story — the more I’ve put my story out there, the more willing people have been to show up, donate, volunteer and spread the word. The cricket community, especially, has wrapped around me in a way I’ll never forget. It’s shown me that generosity isn’t rare — sometimes people just need the opportunity.
I want to keep growing Whack MS for 6. Our vision is to raise $6 million for MS by 2026, and once we hit that milestone, I don’t plan on stopping. This is bigger than me — it’s about helping researchers get closer to a cure and easing the load for people living with MS. As I come to the end of my cricketing career, I’d love to explore creating a foundation and expanding the impact we can make. I want to use my story and platform to drive real change, raise awareness nationally, and help ensure MS research and support continue to be valued and properly funded in Australia. My hope is that one day someone diagnosed with MS — getting the same news that I did at 19 — can be told not just how the illness works, but that there’s a cure.
Before she was a professional cricketer, Jemma Barsby’s earliest reflections of giving were on community cricket grounds in Brisbane where she noticed how sport is built on generosity — teammates backing each other up, volunteers and families showing up week after week. Those early lessons shaped her belief that giving isn’t just about money, it about time, energy and community.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 19, Jemma is now using her platform to rally others through Whack MS for 6. By bringing cricket and community together, she’s raising awareness, backing breakthrough research and breaking the silence around a disease that’s often hidden. Proof that leadership isn’t just about how you play — it’s about how you show up.
