I was diagnosed with MS in 2014. I had optic neuritis in about 2004, which was put down to 'hopefully a virus'. I had a few other episodes, but nothing much and these could be explained by other factors. I was a keen runner and my half marathon time was 1hour 45 mins (2012). I ran the London and Edinburgh marathons in 2013, raising lots of money for charity, but noticed my left leg dragged after the 20 mile mark, I put this down to having to run so far. I completed in 4hours 28 mins, but this was a lot slower than I was expecting.

I became a para-athlete and competed in 2015 as a T36 running the 100m, 200m and in the Long jump. I was the UK no.1 ranked T36 athlete in these events during 2015 and competed in the CPISRA world games and won 3 gold medals for Team England. I was ranked no.11 in the world over the 100M, no.15 in the 200m and 2nd in the long jump. I was put on the British athletics Talent ID programme for my potential to run at the Rio Olympic Games.

Unfortunately my MS had other ideas and I began to progress downhill rapidly despite treatment with Lemtrada (a disease modifying drug). I am only 37 and have 3 children. I worry about what MS is going to do if it continues at this current rate of progression, I feel HSCT abroad is my only hope left to fight against the rapid onslaught of my MS and its devastating effects on my body and my family xx

My family have seen me go from marathon-running charity runner to para-athlete. From still being able to run and walk at the start of 2016, from walking with a stick and then finally to a wheelchair ( well mobility scooter really as I don't have the strength to propel a chair due to my left arm weakening); all in the space of 9 months. I need help to bathe, dress and can barely write.

HSCT involves full chemotherapy and is the treatment shown by the BBC panorama programme in 2016. The aim of AHSCT is to ‘reset’ the immune system to stop it from attacking the central nervous system.