I ran my first London Marathon in 2009 and have run every London Marathon since then as a means of raising much needed funds for the MS Trust, a charity performing essential work supporting those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Over the years I've watched family, friends and work colleagues coping with the reality of MS and I know how devastating it can be. My mother suffered from the disease for many years and I saw at first hand the pain and frustration it caused her. A few years ago my wife’s sister died at the age of 50; she was fortunate to spend her last two years in the care of dedicated people who helped to give her a real quality of life, but living with MS had been a constant battle for more than two decades.

MS is a debilitating and progressive disease for which there is currently no known cure. It impacts not just on the sufferers but also on the lives of their families and friends who do their best to cope and provide emotional and practical support as MS progresses.

No two people experience the condition in the same way: variability and unpredictability are key characteristics of MS. The MS Trust directs it resources towards providing a first class, evidence-based information service to answer individual questions from MS sufferers, their friends and families, as well as those who provide professional support - nurses, therapists, doctors and many others.

I find it telling that one of the MS Trust's London Marathon runners in recent years is a Professor of Neurology who in his 'day job' sees many patients with MS. He says "We continually try to push the boundaries with our research but it does little to improve the lives of people living with MS on a day-to-day basis. In contrast the MS Trust does a lot to help and they do this very quietly in a methodical and meticulous way. Without the MS Trust the lives of people with MS would be a lot harder, which is why I have supported them by running three marathons. We simply couldn't do without them."

I really would appreciate it if you can make a contribution online here - it will make a genuine difference so please be generous; If you are a UK Taxpayer, contributions will be boosted by 25% under the Gift Aid scheme.

See how I get on at https://www.john-ms.com