On the night of June 8, I'm going to be cycling 100km around London to raise money for the MS Society. It's not just any old night - it's the night of my birthday.

Yes, I'll be giving up my birthday celebrations to raise money for charity.

Why am I doing this? Well, it's mainly because I work for the MS Society. I know that there are lots of things we do to help people with MS. We give people information about how to manage MS and its symptoms; we provide grants to people to pay for things they need as a result of their MS; we campaign for better access to treatments and for a fairer benefits system; we offer support - both emotional, and peer-to-peer - via our Helpline and our branches; and we fund research into new treatments.

But the one thing that we can't yet do is make it go away. MS is a complex condition and, despite years of research already, there is still no cure.

So why should you sponsor me? I'll let Carole explain why. She's a wonderful volunteer that I work with. She also has MS.

"From when I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis over 10 years ago right through to now with my MS progressing, the MS Society has been fantastic in so many ways.  The helpline support, the information, the publications, the website, the meeting others living with the condition, the campaigning - it has all helped me to come to terms with, and be able to live with, MS. 

Everyone's MS is different, but for me it has completely changed my life.  I can't do much with my son or my friends now, I can't walk far, I have pain most days, I have to wear clothes with no buttons or zips because my hands don't work well, I often can't concentrate, I am no longer able to work and the fatigue is worse than I can ever describe.

The MS Society funds a huge amount of research into MS each year.  This is improving people's lives on a daily basis by helping to treat the many difficult, and often scary, symptoms.  The research is also trying to slow down the progression of MS - and ultimately to finding a cure for MS, so giving us all hope.

Please support Jude on her sponsored bike ride and donate something to the MS Society, to help me and the 100,000 other people in the UK living with MS.  THANK YOU!"

For Carole and the other 100,000 people with MS in this country, please give what you can.