I am climbing Mount Etna and would be so grateful for your sponsorship, as they aim to raise funds for a new charity, MS Positive. I will be climbing with its founder Toni Krok, my friend, who was diagnosed with MS 10 years ago, and who is an inspiration in her strength, determination and 'make-it-happen' attitude that MS should not stop Toni being herself.

In response to her own experiences, Toni set up MS Positive to help other families impacted by MS. She is very much aware of the advantages that she has had, which have given her access to high quality support and advice, and wants others with MS to have the same opportunities and life chances, whatever challenges they face.

MS Positive will place families at its heart, focusing on the individual not the illness, because that’s what Toni does. It aims to provide really practical support from healthy living and bespoke exercise regimes, to emotional support, networking groups and a hotline. It will complement rather than compete with existing MS charities because it is human-sized, and so is to work with individuals and families to understand their very specific circumstances and needs. So what are we raising money for? We want to provide

1. Emotional support from those who know what it’s like to have MS, via support groups, a hotline, our website and a forum for families

2. Practical support, such as exercise and pilates classes, advice on healthy living and finance and assessing child-care

3. And in the longer term, a safe haven, a state-of-the-art facility in North London.

3. And in the longer term, a safe haven, a state-of-the-art facility in North London.