There are 130,000 in the UK with MS and 7,000 are diagnosed each year. For some, research has found treatments but too many people still don’t have anything to stop their MS getting worse. The Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Stop MS appeal is hoping to raise £100m with the aim of finding treatments for everyone with MS by 2025.

A number of my family and friends have MS, including my good friend Nick. Nick is 55 and lives in Dorchester, Dorset. He was diagnosed with Progressive MS in 2014 and his mobility has significantly deteriorated since then.

I first met Nick in1994 when we played for final football teams. Our friendship developed when we both ended up working for the same employer 20 years later.

Nick is one of the nicest people I know. He has always been committed to helping his community and, although his MS has meant he is no longer able to be as active as he used to be, he is still a Governor of a local school and Trustee for two charities.

Personally, I have witnessed how MS can destroy lives and devastate families and I wanted to play my small part in helping find a cure. 

Having regard to how Nick and I first met it seemed appropriate for me to do something football related to raise money for the Stop MS appeal. I currently play for Swanage Town and Herston FC in the Dorset over 60’s Walking Football League and through this came up with the idea of undertaking a walking tour of the Premiership Stadiums.

The tour will start at St. James Park, Newcastle, finish at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth and take in all of the other Premiership stadiums in between. It will involve me walking 600 miles in total and I hope to complete this over 21 days between 14 August and 3 September.