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It is estimated that more than 130,000 people live with multiple sclerosis in the UK. MS damages nerves in your body and makes it harder to do everyday things like walking, talking, eating and thinking. It can be relentless, painful and disabling.

The condition is unpredictable and different for everyone. Symptoms can include pain, fatigue, muscle spasms and vision problems. It can also impact your memory, thinking and your mental health.

The MS Society is striving for a world free from the effects of MS. Since 1956, the charity has invested over 拢227 million of today鈥檚 money into vital MS research. Studies funded by the MS Society have helped researchers understand more about the condition and have contributed to major breakthroughs in MS treatments. Last year, through its Stop MS Appeal, the charity launched the largest clinical trial it has ever committed to funding 鈥� known as Octopus 鈥� which aims to find treatments that can stop MS from progressing.

The MS Society can see a future where nobody needs to worry about MS getting worse 鈥� one where there are treatments that slow or stop disability progression for everyone with MS.听While the charity is trying to achieve that, they want to make sure no-one has to face MS alone.

Across the UK more than 240 local MS Society groups provide support and information to anyone living with MS. The groups, all run by volunteers, offer a brilliant way to meet others affected by the condition and help reduce isolation. A wide range of services and support are available, from social activities and exercise classes, to therapies like physio and massage.

The MS Helpline receives thousands of calls every year from people with MS or their friends, family and carers. Specially trained staff and volunteers provide confidential and free emotional support and information on anything to do with MS, including symptoms, treatments, disability benefits and exercise. MS nurses are on hand to answer medical related queries and a befriending service is available too.

"It means a huge amount to me to support this appeal for the MS Society. My dad was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when I was six, and sadly died when I was only 18-years-old.

Every year, nearly 7,000 people in the UK are told they have MS. Most people experience their first symptoms in their 20s, 30s and 40s when they鈥檙e working on their career or maybe thinking about starting a family. No-one knows how their condition will develop or how disabled they may become. It can be really scary and isolating.

The MS Society is here to make sure no-one has to face MS alone. The charity鈥檚 free MS Helpline provides confidential emotional support and information. Local groups around the UK, run by incredible volunteers, offer exercise classes and help reduce isolation by arranging social meet ups. The charity is also funding life-changing research 鈥� and wants a future where no one has to worry about their MS getting worse.

Thank you for watching and supporting the appeal 鈥� and helping the MS Society to continue its vital work."

Sasha was diagnosed with MS in 2019, just three weeks after her youngest child was born. She says MS took away the feeling that she was actually a mum 鈥� she had to spend weeks in hospital, away from her three children, and wasn鈥檛 able to spend vital time bonding with her new-born.听

She didn鈥檛 know anything about MS at the time and was really worried about what was going to happen and how she was going to look after her three children.

Then Sasha found out about the MS Society鈥檚 free helpline. She first called just months after finding out she had MS because she was worried about her future. She says they made her feel reassured and much calmer and she now often calls when she鈥檚 having a difficult day: 鈥淚t made me realise you don鈥檛 have to be alone on your journey and there is support on every step of the way.鈥�

Stuart has lived with MS since 1996. The condition impacts his walking, his hands and his speech.

Like many people with MS, Stuart also has to deal with bladder issues and it got so bad that he ended up being scared to leave the house. Then, through the MS Society鈥檚 website, he discovered that Botox injections could help. The MS Society funded the first study to show Botox could effectively manage bladder symptoms for people with MS. Stuart says it鈥檚 been life-changing for him: 鈥淚t鈥檚 dramatically helped me improve my quality of life. It鈥檚 helped my family when we go out anywhere. It鈥檚 affected me dramatically mentally and that鈥檚 a really, really good thing.鈥�

Stuart鈥檚 daughter Lucy is 18 and also lives with MS. The family found out the devastating news when she was just 5-years-old, which is extremely听rare. However, the research the MS Society is funding provides the whole family with a lot of hope.

Val is the group co-ordinator for the Conwy & Denbighshire MS Society group in North Wales, she was diagnosed with MS in 2008.

The group meets every month for a social event and every week hosts an online Tai Chi class for people with MS across Wales. In between, volunteers are able to offer support to people with MS over the phone.听

Val says she鈥檇 be lost without the group, which has given her focus and purpose since leaving work and has enabled her to make new friends.

鈥淲e are such a supportive bunch and we have a laugh together. I can sometimes feel embarrassed about my MS but not with people who have the condition, we all know what it鈥檚 like and we understand.鈥�