I hope to raise money for the MS Trust and MS Society, two charities close to my heart, whilst putting my best foot forward! The challenge is to walk the length of Hadrians Wall - 84 miles - all the way from Wallsend, Newcastle to Bowness-on-Solway, Cumbria!! Along the way I'll be joined by a number of friends to keep me going.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune neurological condition - meaning for some unknown reason the body starts to attack itself. It affects the brain and spinal cord. 'Sclerosis' means scarring and refers to the areas damaged which show on MRI. 'Multiple' refers to the fact these areas can happen in many places. It is a life long condition.

In the UK more than 130,000 people are living with one of three main forms of MS. Currently there is no cure for the condition, although some treatments can reduce the amount of relapses ( when a new symptom appears or current worsens). This slows progression of the condition. In the early stages a full recovery may occur, however over time recovery becomes less complete.

Everybody with MS is different and has their own 'MS journey'. Whilst there are a range of symptoms, people will suffer with a different variety and also to differing degrees. Many of these symptoms are 'invisable'.

The MS Trust and MS Society are there to help and listen to people with MS, their family and friends. The two organisations have a number of free booklets filled with information and tips. They also have hotlines for people to speak to someone and guidance with finding financial support. Just as importantly they are involved in ongoing research, looking for better treatments and a cure!