MS came into my life about 15 years ago when my wife (Talei) suddenly woke up one morning and was unable to see properly in one eye. Over the course of the next week, she went completely blind in this eye. That’s how instant MS can be. Thankfully over time Talei regained some of her vision but has been left with only about 30% sight in this eye. Despite lots of tests it could not be confirmed as MS though we were told this was a possibility. Forward on 11 years and again one morning Talei had a strange feeling in her arm. Over the next week the arm went dead! This time it was confirmed as MS. For a long time Talei couldn’t do all the things she used to be able to do. With two young children this was a very testing time. For those people who know Talei they’ll also know how amazing a violin/fiddle player she is. In the early stages she couldn’t even hold it never mind play it! Thankfully with help and support Talei worked hard and regained the vast majority of the use of her arm and hand, as well as her legs which had also been affected by this attack. The real delight was when, after 8 months, she was able to play her violin again. 

Her progress and recovery has been in no small part due to the wonderful team at Benmar House, which is home to the MS Research and Relief Fund charity. This amazing centre provides totally free support for those in the North East affected by this debilitating and progressive disease. From complimentary therapies to preventative treatments and even a specially-adapted gym that can accommodate users with varying levels of disability, MSRRF provides a hub of help, support, friendship, understanding and acceptance to both MS sufferers themselves and also to their carers. The services they provide are completely free of charge to the users and so the centre relies entirely on charitable donations hence why I am undertaking this challenge! Any donation that you are able to make would be so gratefully received and would truly enable MSRRF to continue supporting people affected by this disease. MS can transform people's lives and futures in an instant, but Benmar House can help to make those futures just a little brighter. 

The pandemic has obviously had a big impact on MSRRF and the work that it does. All services were postponed for a long period of time and with this came a great deal of financial uncertainty. Redundancies were unfortunately made in order to keep the charity viable. Somehow it managed to scrape through and a limited service and therapy offer started again when it was safer to do so. Provisions are still reduced now to take into account the additional safety measures that are required for people with greater vulnerabilities but thankfully people are once again able to benefit from the wonderful services and support on offer. With your generous help, you will be helping to secure the future of such a valuable resource that benefits so many. Thank you so much for any donation that you are able to make. 

Your support is needed now more than ever! 

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