Supporting the MS Trust

Rich from Dorset tells us why he is taking on a 50-mile tandem cycle challenge in aid of the MS Trust.

The MS Trust only has a small team of staff, based in Letchworth in Hertfordshire, so we rely on our volunteers to act as our representatives around the UK. Our volunteers act as the face and voice of the MS Trust in their local area, raising funds and awareness of MS and our services. 

MS Trust supporter Kenny Smith is going to cycle around the UK for 50 consecutive days to celebrate what would have been his sister Kathleen’s 50th birthday.

Paul Kosinski pushed himself out of his comfort zone to take part in our Jump in June skydiving month.

Jo Sopala, Director of Health Professional Programmes at the MS Trust, has signed up to run the British 10K in July and wants you to join her.

Teresa and Des have set themselves a mammoth challenge of running 1000 miles in 2018 to support people living with MS.

Zoe tells us why she and her partner Rob ran The Big Half for the MS Trust to help support people affected by MS.

When Anna was told that she might have MS, she wanted to focus her energies on something positive and decided to climb the highest mountain in Wales.

As he starts his training, David Martin tells us why he will be cycling from London to Amsterdam with a team of over 40 other MS Trust supporters.

School friends Emma and Marc took on the Descente London Duathlon this September, raising £700 in sponsorship.

Jenny, who has MS, tells us why she wanted to take on the Bournemouth Half Marathon for the MS Trust.

Jenifer, who was diagnosed with MS five years ago, tells us how she overcame her nerves to take part in a sponsored skydive. 

In August 2017, MS Trust supporter Jason walked from Eynsford to Canterbury over four days and raised £2,337.

Rob shares his experience of taking part in the Scottish Coast to Coast Canoe Challenge for the MS Trust.

As she gets ready to run the Great North Run, Emily tells us how her mum has inspired her to take on this challenge. 

Paramedic Andy West, who has MS, has completed a 100-mile off-road cycle along the South Downs Way.

A year on from his London to Paris cycle ride, Dave Evans reflects on the life-changing experience of cycling 300 miles alongside 40 other MS Trust supporters.

Alex did a presentation at her school assembly during MS Awareness Week to help her fellow students understand more about MS.

Not content with just running the Great North Run, Jack Curtis plans to push a heavy sled over the same distance to raise funds to help people with MS.

Jody Cass decided to set herself a challenge for her 40th year as a way to get fit and raise some money for the MS Trust. 

After a tough few years following her MS diagnosis, Kat Martin stepped into the light and decided to do something to challenge herself.

A team of family and friends who call themselves the MS Dossers took part in our 50-mile cycle challenge at Goodwood in May.

As she prepares to run the British 10K for the third time, Helena shares her experience of running with MS and reflects on some of the reasons why she has been able to push herself.

John from Crosby is getting ready for a three-day trek through France, Italy and Switzerland across Europe's largest mountain range.

Charlotte from Hampshire explains how a clear out at home kick-started a car boot sale campaign to help others who have MS.

Sarah took part in the 15-mile Belvoir Challenge walk in memory of her mum who had MS.

MS Trust fundraiser Kelly was inspired this week by a very busy queen bee in Hull who has raised over £100,000 for Age UK. Meet Jean, 'The Bee Lady'.

Jon Makin has called in the help of his colleagues at Tesco to raise £8,000 for MS Trust, starting with two days of collections.

Sue Macdonald from Shrewsbury achieved a dream when she took part in a skydive in Lancaster in aid of the MS Trust.

Heather tells us how she and her family are dealing with her recent MS diagnosis and why she has decided to take on the Bath Half Marathon.

Bella and Charlie will be dressing as reindeer and taking part in a sponsored walk in honour of their dad Mike who has MS.

Eight friends from London took part in a 300 mile cycle to Paris in May and have raised more than £16,000 in honour of their friend who has MS.

Daisy Doncaster, MS Forward View project coordinator, tells us about her abseil down the tallest permanent abseil tower in the world.

Amy Mackelden writes plays, poetry and pop criticism. Her most recent book is Adele: the other side, published by Eyewear Press. She was diagnosed with MS in 2014 and this year volunteered to join the advisory group of our MS Forward View project. Here she explains why she got involved and what inspires her

For the past six years, MS Trust supporters have been opening their gardens and holding outdoor events to raise funds as part of our summer My Garden Party campaign. 12-year-old Megan Cass tells us about the garden party she held to support families like hers that are affected by MS, and why she’ll be doing the same again this summer.

Gilly Burdon, an MS specialist occupational therapist, tells us why she is cycling London to Paris for the MS Trust.

Hayley Budge from Orkney tells us about her winning Tulip necklace design, which has inspired a jewellery collection that is on sale now to raise funds for the MS Trust.

A handy guide to buying the art you want in the 2016 Secret Art Show. Get in quick when sales open at 9am on Monday!

Should the task of improving MS services be solely the responsibility of the NHS? Amy Bowen, Director of Service Development at the MS Trust, explains why we believe it’s vital for the MS Trust to work in co-operation with MS teams to ensure people living with MS receive the best possible care

The MS Trust's Director of Fundraising and Marketing, Jo Sopala, writes about the Atlantic Lions' incredible journey taking on the ocean and taking on MS.

With under 100 miles to go until the finish line of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, David blogs about his uncle Gary who was the inspiration behind the challenge. 

After another storm hits the Atlantic Lions, their estimated arrival date in Antigua is pushed back again.

Comparing the unpredicatbility of the ocean with the unpredicatability of MS, the Atlantic Lions reflect on the last 47 days rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. 

Atlantic Lion Joe blogs about the final stretch of the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge as they move ever closer to Antigua. After 43 days of continuous ocean rowing the boys have to come up with new ways to keep themselves entertained. 

The Atlantic Lions have now been rowing continuously for over 37 days. Five weeks of ocean rowing has taken its toll on the boys and in this blog Dr Matt gives us a medical update. 

The Atlantic Lions celebrate passing the halfway point on their journey across the Atlantic Ocean by blogging about their latest fishing ventures.

With the storm about to hit, Atlantic Lion Joe blogs about how they can avoid being pushed backward towards the Canaries. 

Atlantic Lion Matt blogs about a typical day on board their rowing boat Tiny Dancer. 

Some difficult times lay ahead for our Atlantic Lions who are rowing towards a significant storm.

The boys have been warned and options have been discussed, but it is likely to mean para-anchor and an unpleasant few days.

The Atlantic Lions have now spent a total of two weeks rowing continuously across the Atlantic Ocean. As they move further west they are treated to more frequent wildlife visitors which helps to keep the boys motivated.

After 11 days at sea the Atlantic Lions are settling into the routine of life on board the boat. With some suprise visitors on day 10, spirits are high. 

2015 has been another busy year for the MS Trust.  Highlights include:

• MS Decisions launched
• Information about secondary progressive MS
• Evidence for MS specialist services published
• Launch of the new look MS Trust website
• NICE quality standard for MS
• Supporting health professionals
• Your support for us

Things are looking up for the Atlantic Lions who have now spent a total of 9 days at sea. But despite the weather getting better, the Lions are now facing problems with their power supplies.

Many miles away from their families, girlfriends and roast dinners, things were looking tough for our brave Lions on Christmas day. 

72 hours and 160 nautical miles into the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge and the Atlantic Lions share with us their first blog from the Atlantic Ocean. 

Watch this fantastic footage from the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge start line featuring the Atlantic Lions who are rowing for the MS Trust. 

As we reveal a major redevelopment of our website, MS Trust's Director of Information and Engagement Linden Muirhead explains why we believe it will help us help even more people living with MS, and why we want your feedback.

This weekend had long been in our diaries as the first ‘proper outing’. We have been out as a crew together on the river, but never more than a couple of hours at a time and although Matt and Charlie had already spent a night on the boat, that was well within the protection of Christchurch harbour!

This autumn the MS Trust is launching a new, fully updated version of MS Decisions.

MS Decisions is the independent, interactive resource that helps you learn about MS disease modifying drugs, weigh up your treatment options, get more from your discussions with your MS team and make the choice that works for you.

When Vicky Edwards was buying her first property it made her realise how important it was to make a will. As well as ensuring her loved ones were provided for, it was also a great opportunity to support her favourite charity.

If you’re a subscriber you’ll have seen that the new issue of our free newsletter Open Door, out this week, leads on our new resource Making Sense of MS.

Congratulations to MS Trust fundraising superstar Kenny Smith! Over the last 12 years, through countless marathons, treks and bike rides, Kenny has raised over £30,000 for the MS Trust. Five years ago he dreamed up the annual MS Circuit Challenge at Goodwood, which this year is on course to raise over £15,000. And last weekend he and a crew of dedicated friends pedalled over 23 miles in a Robin Reliant and raised another £1000! Below Kenny tells about the day.

Carolyn Kovash came all the way from the USA to take part in the London Marathon on behalf of the MS Trust. Below is her race day report.

MS Awareness Week begins next week on Monday 27 April. This year we are working to highlight the importance of MS services – the MS nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other health professionals with specialist expertise in MS.

Why do we want to cross an entire ocean in a small rowing boat? Three reasons really. First, the sense of adventure that only the high seas can bring. Second, the challenge in pushing the human body to the endurance limits. But third, and most important, to make a real difference to a charity so close to our hearts.

On 30 August, Ben Naughton (pictured right) will be taking on his first of five events to raise money for the MS Trust. Starting with the Rubicon Half Iron Man, Ben will complete five events in just five weeks! He is also taking on the Coniston Chill Swim (5.25 miles), Marathon Row at Cross Fit HG3, London to Paris cycle ride and finishing with the Berlin Marathon on 28 September. Here Ben tells us why he is taking on these incredible challenges.

We’re constantly inspired by the amazing work of our community fundraisers. Now some of you are joining together to make supporting the MS Trust even more fun, more social and more effective. Donna from our fundraising team introduces the new Friends of the MS Trust groups.

Karen Walker took part in a skydive for the MS Trust in December last year along with a group of her friends who all have MS. Here she tells us how they went from meeting on an MS course in Sheffield to climbing 13,000ft together in a light aircraft!

When Liz Hilland from Country Durham found out she had multiple sclerosis in 1999 she knew very little about it and feared it was an end to the life she knew. Since then she become involved in raising funds and awareness to help others understand more about MS and show that life goes on after diagnosis. Last year she took part in a zip slide from the Tyne Bridge as part of our Be Bold in Blue campaign.

This was my second year taking part in the MS Trust’s cycle race at Goodwood and I knocked 20 mins off my time – 2hrs 15mins to beat next year then! I support the event for several reasons and it has been great fun to attend with my family and friends. My younger brother suffers with secondary progressive MS so I like to try and do something for an MS charity each year. 

Fate tapped me on the shoulder in a room at the National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square.

It was the room where the Titians are, and, even if it sounds like Pseuds Corner in Private Eye, I was analyzing Titian’s late masterpiece “Diana and Actaon”.

We’re very grateful to our patrons Jackie and Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen who appeared on ITV’s Lorraine show this morning, talking about MS Awareness Week. Both Jackie and Laurence’s mothers were diagnosed with MS, so they have a real understanding of  the day-to-day reality of the condition.