I will be running the 2024 TCS London Marathon in aid of the MS trust- a UK based charity that is committed to supporting people living with MS from the point at which they are diagnosed.

What is MS:

Many of you who know myself or my family will know that my dad has Multiple Sclerosis (MS) of the Primary Progressive kind. Primary Progressive MS is the least common type of MS, affecting about 15% of those diagnosed with the condition, and means that once neurological symptoms appear they will only progress or stabilise. The other type of MS, Relapse-remitting MS, makes up the remaining 85% of people and presents with episodes of neurological symptoms (relapses) followed by periods of full or partial recovery (remission).

MS is a horrible neurological condition that affects people in various unpleasant ways. Individuals who experience MS face changes to their sensory and/or motor systems due to damage caused to nerves in the body by an autoimmune response. In my Dad’s case, this has led to him being a wheelchair user who requires a fairly high level of care from my family and I (including washing, dressing, getting in and out of bed and recently, to everyone’s immense delight, wiping his arse).

My family and I have to overcome obstacles and barriers daily, these continue to change as my Dad’s MS progresses and although there are woes and lows to caring for a person with disabilities, some benefits do arise. For me, these have come in the form of the various wheelchairs that I was able to joyride, and ultimately crash, in my childhood and being able to use blue badge parking (and the moral high ground that comes with it). Most importantly, the shared experiences of moving a fat bloke in a wheelchair from A to B and back again (his words not mine) has made us closer as a family.

Why am I doing this?

My Dad is fortunate in that he has an extensive support network around him to help him manage his symptoms and, as his MS has not yet affected his cognitive function (as it does for many people), accommodate him to continue to work for the NHS at a reasonably senior level. Many people living with MS do not have this experience. The MS trust can give provide this.

About the MS Trust:

The MS trust is a UK based charity committed to supporting people living with MS by training MS specialist nurses and other MS healthcare experts. They work in collaboration with the NHS, enriching the multidisciplinary care individuals require, to ensure people do not face MS alone. These are the professionals who provide care, empathy, and education to people living with MS, helping them to understand and manage their condition as best as possible. MS specialist nurses have helped my Mum and Dad navigate through how they can adapt at home to accommodate the changes brought about by dad’s condition. By raising money for the MS trust, I hope I can support them so they are able to extend this work further to ensure as many people as possible can receive the support needed.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that is often not recognised or talked about, despite affecting around 130 000 people in the UK in a pretty shitty way. However small, any donations can help the MS Trust continue to spread awareness about MS and provide crucial assistance to those who need it.

lots of love,

Molly xxx