Thank you for taking the time to visit my Just Giving page.

I am running the London Marathon 2018 for the MS Society in
memory of my much loved and amazing Nan and Grandad. I have always wanted to take on this challenge, I always said I'd do it by the time I was 30 (that ship has clearly sailed!) so I decided to put my money where my mouth is and apply for a place as an MS Superstar.

25 years ago my Grandad was diagnosed with MS. He was nearly 60. My Nan took on the role of his carer for much of this time. Heartbreakingly my Grandad passed away 3 years ago and my Nan sadly passed away last year. It's really hard to put into words how you can miss someone so much so I am using this as my motivation to take on this challenge in their memory and as a thank you to the MS society for everything they did for them.

My Grandad had always had physical jobs and was a very dedicated dairyman who really loved his cows! I've heard many stories of how
brave he was (or bloody stupid as my Nan would say!!) being dragged along by a cow that had bolted but refusing to let go of the rope because he was more concerned about the cows safety than his own! Being diagnosed with MS and the awful blackouts he used to have sadly meant he  could no longer do what he loved. They should have been looking forward to their retirement after a life of hard work. MS robbed them of this.

They joined the Swanage and Wareham MS Society 22 years ago
and it became a massive part of their lives, it really was a lifeline for them, not only offering medical help and advice but also the lifelong friends they made which gave them a social life and a support system. Through the MS Society they met friends they could go on holidays with, have days and evenings out and take part in fundraising together.

It's an amazing organisation that does such fantastic work
for people and their families who are effected by MS and with your help I'd like to say thank you by raising as much as I can for them! I really appreciate you reading my story and am massively grateful for any donations made.

From the MS Society:

£5 -  Could provide basic lab equipment to help our researchers stop MS.

£10 - Could help pay for physio equipment to help people with MS with their movement.

£25 - Could help us be there for 5 people who call our helpline for support.

£50 - Could pay for an hour of microscope use to help our researchers study cells.

£500 - Could provide a short break for someone with MS to enjoy quality time and a chance to relax without worries.

£1000 - Could run an MRI scanner for four hours, providing detailed images of the brain that helps us to understand MS.

£2000 - Could pay for 40 days of the MS Society Online Forum; a place for people with MS, their friends and their family to connect and get much needed support.

MS is a neurological condition caused when your immune system isn't working properly.

A substance called myelin protects the nerve fibres in the central nervous system, helping messages travel quickly and smoothly between the brain and the rest of the body. 

In MS, your immune system mistakes myelin for a foreign body and attacks it. This damages the myelin and strips it off the nerve fibres, either slightly or completely, leaving scars known as
lesions or plaques.

Multiple sclerosis is different for everyone. You can get symptoms in many parts of your body some mild and some more extreme.

Commonly this can include problems with your vision and balance, dizziness, fatigue, bladder problems and stiffness and/or spasms. It can also affect things like memory and emotions.

Here at the MS Society we understand what life's like with MS. And together we are stronger. We're researching, writing, campaigning and fighting. Running, walking, caring and talking.

Together, we are strong enough to stop MS.

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