By Bonny O’Shea. Produced for online by Melissa Hunter.

Australians are being encouraged  to rock red clothing and lipstick for the next 30 days in a nod to the prevalence of women suffering multiple sclerosis.

The campaign aims to raise awareness and for the first time  includes a fundraising component.

MS Queensland media and communications manager Melanie Mead is asking Australians to dig deep for much-needed funds.

“The goal is 500,000 which is quite an ambitious goal but it will help those 21,000  Australians currently living with the disease,” she says.

Most people who suffer from the disease are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40 with no cause or cure.

MS Australia public affairs and advocacy manager Prue Guillame says there has been groundbreaking development in MS research.

“The research is very groundbreaking they have discovered a protein that they think might act as hand-break in the progression of the disease,” she says.

A new building in Melbourne is also attracting young MS sufferers “Cairo” allows affected young people to live with their peers rather than in aged care.

“It’s a collaboration between us and other community organisations and now the government to provide a vertical village in the heart of the CBD,” Ms Guillame says.

The University of Queensland will help paint the town red in support of the campaign.

University of Queensland services manager Kevin O’Sullivan says the university will be lighting one of its historic sandstone buildings in red.

“We like to contribute something to these organisations and it’s a small effort on our behalf to raise awareness,” he says.

Other buildings to be lit up include the Wintergarden Centre and the Treasury Casino.