Photograph and caption: Stuart Wood, diagnosed with MS in 1996
If it wasn’t for the MS Society funding research into drugs - Botox and many others - we wouldn’t be where we are now as a family"
More than 130,000 people live with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the UK. It’s estimated that around 7,000 people are diagnosed every year. MS is a neurological condition that damages the protective myelin coating around nerves in your body and can make it harder to do everyday things, like walk, talk, eat and think. Most people experience their first symptoms in their 20s, 30s and 40s. It’s a progressive condition that for many will worsen over time.
We were delighted and incredibly grateful when our Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Lifeline Appeal, broadcast in June 2022, raised more than £13,000 for our work. The appeal was presented by our supporter, the celebrity chef, Tom Kerridge, whose father lived with MS. It enabled us to reach millions of people – many of them new to the charity.
Stuart, a dad of two from County Durham, was one of the people who appeared in the film. He was diagnosed with MS in 1996 and his daughter Lucy was also diagnosed with the condition, age 5.
One of Stuart’s main MS symptoms is issues with bladder control. But thankfully, thanks in part to research funded by the MS Society, he’s benefitted from a successful treatment. Stuart said: “I go to hospital every 6 months and have Botox injected into my bladder. It’s dramatically helped me improve my quality of life. It’s helped my family when we go out anywhere. It’s affected me dramatically, mentally, and that’s a really, really good thing.”
Stuart added: “If it wasn’t for the MS Society funding research into drugs we wouldn’t be where we are now as a family.”
The MS Society’s aim as a charity is to stop MS and we’ve never been closer to achieving this than we are today. We are the largest UK charitable funder of MS research, every year investing millions of pounds into new and ongoing studies and trials. By 2025, we hope to be in the late stages of testing a range of treatments for all types of MS.
In the meantime, we are here to make sure no one faces MS alone. We do this through delivering vital support services, accurate information and campaigning for everyone’s rights. Our services include a free helpline and a UK-wide network of local groups. We also campaign on the issues that matter to our community, such as disability benefits, social care, and access to treatments.
The money raised from our Lifeline Appeal will help us continue this vital work: funding research, providing support, reducing isolation and championing the rights of people living with MS. Thank you.
To find out more about what we do, please click .