3/06/04- It worked guys, I slowed the treadmill down to 0.5 mph, just that little bit slower, and today I did the full 26.2 mins non-stop! Wow, what an amazing feeling! I am chuffed to bits!!! Thanks everyone who has supported me and sponsored me! Sylvie x

27/05/04- Well today I completed my treadmill marathon albeit with a few rests. I have had to concede that asking my legs to walk for 26.2 mins non-stop was beyond possibility. 20 mins is my best non-stop attempt. After this my legs just buckle and the rest of the marathon I've had to do a few minutes at a time, with short rests to enable my legs to recover a little. It becomes exponentially harder the further I go on after this pain barrier BUT GUYS I DID IT!

So, even though I had to stop a few times, what I have achieved for me, well it is monumental!!! And I'm going to keep training and pushing those boundaries. One day I will manage it non-stop, of that I am sure!!!

So thank you to all you wonderful people who have sponsored me! I never thought I'd raise anything like this amount. You can rest assured that MSRC will put it to good use!

Thanks again

Sylvie x ------------------------------------------------------------ Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. For those of you who know me, you'll know what a struggle it is for me to walk at all! But those of you who know me, will appreciate just how hard I have worked to not only stabilise my MS, but also gain movement and strength back into my legs, and reclaim my life as a whole. As such I am therefore proud of every step I take! So in my usual indefatigable style, I have set myself my own personal Marathon Challenge... I am going to try to walk on a treadmill at the local Gym at a speed of 0.7 mph for 26.2 minutes! And here is the crunch! I really want to do my treadmill marathon without any breaks! That is my aim anyway! If this proves to be impossible because my legs stop working, then I think a break or too is acceptable, after all marathon runners do stop for drinks and small rests don't they! I have been training for weeks and trying to build up the time I can last on the Treadmill. This will be a real Challenge for me! I do not know whether it is actually achievable, but if I don't manage it on my first attempt on Thursday the 27th of May, you can bet that I will try, try, try and try again until I do! I will achieve 26.2 mins on the treadmill without any breaks, I just can't promise when I will achieve this. On the 27th I WILL DO MY BEST, and keep trying every week, all Summer if I have to until I do achieve this goal. This is just me being really crazy though! Every penny raised is of great value to the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre. The MSRC Team are a group of remarkable people who share my vision in raising awareness about MS. Their message, like mine, is one full of positivity and hope. A diagnosis with Multiple Sclerosis does not have to be the end of the world. Though there is no cure for MS at present, there are plenty of things you can do to HELP YOURSELF. I am living proof that this is true. When I hit rock bottom six years a go my ms was in freefall decline and I felt my life slipping away. I then decided to face MS head-on. I made a conscious decision to do whatever it took. I visited a Nutrition Consultant, made drastic dietary changes and started to take a lot of vitamins. I felt had nothing to lose, only my LIFE TO GAIN! I went for it and very gradually began to turn my life around. As my reality began to change, so did my whole Attitude and Outlook towards my illness and my life. Slowly I began building in strength and stability. I was dedicated, disciplined and determined. I started to gain in confidence and began to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL ONCE AGAIN. The last six years have been a long-haul back, but I feel truly blessed in more ways that I can possibly describe. The MS has not progressed at all in this time. I have actually improved and recovered to a good degree (though I still struggle to walk, live with fatigue, and have to dash to the loo a lot). I have learnt how to live well with MS and my disability. I have met the love of my life. I live in a beautiful house. I no longer require any care. I enjoy long holidays annually in the glorious Florida Keys. I have even started working for a living- I'm self-employed running internet businesses! Though still very difficult, I live a very rich and remarkable life! I have learnt a lot through my struggles. I know what is important in life, what is of value, and what really matters. Your life is your responsibility and if you don't like it, GET ON AND CHANGE IT. To read more about my Journey visit: www.lifeafterms.com The more funds the MSRC, raise the more they can do to reach out and help others to live well with MS, like I am now doing. Awareness is crucial. I lived badly with MS for the first few years, but I was young, scared, alone, ashamed and did not know that there was anything I could do about my illness. This Charity helps to change all this. They stand for everything I live and breath for. They show people with MS that they do not have to be a victim to this illness, that they can choose to be a victor. Although you cannot change the hand you have been dealt in life, you can choose how to play it. They prove to people with MS that there is LIFE AFTER MS and I feel very privileged to be a part of their Team! Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Please dig deep and sponsor me. If it is easier for you to pay by cheque, simply make it out to 'The MSRC', and send it to: Miss S Brown, 4, Philadelphia Gardens, Sheffield, S6 3HQ. Many thanks for your support. Sylvie Brown Bear xxx