MS charity's desperate appeal for more volunteers

The MS Society is appealing for more volunteers in Northamptonshire as "there just aren't enough".

There are only five nurses and five volunteers offering support, despite about 1,500 people in the county having multiple sclerosis.

The Northamptonshire branch of the charity relies on fundraising events and donations to stay afloat.

"We just want to reach out to as many people as possible," said Stella Cleary, who has been volunteering for 10 of the 20 years since she developed MS.

"We'd like to put on more [fundraisers] but there just aren't enough of us to do it."

Although the branch is part of the national charity, the money made goes straight into support for local people with MS.

They are trying to encourage younger people with MS to lend a hand as they feel seeing older people in wheelchairs "can be off-putting".

Cleary wants to reassure younger people with the condition that their fresh perspective will be invaluable.

Cleary was diagnosed at 45 years old. Doctors initially thought she had suffered a stroke when she complained of gradually increasing numbness all over her body.

"I walked into the hospital and came out in a wheelchair four weeks later," she explained.

Twenty years on, Cleary "avoids wheelchairs at all costs" and prefers to use a scooter to get around. She had to learn to walk again and to use her hands.

Cleary said she remained as independent and as positive as possible: "I've got this life and I've got to live with it."

MS is a neurological condition affecting the spinal cord and brain.

There is currently no cure but treatments are available to ease symptoms and manage progression.

Symptoms can include fatigue, numbness and tingling, muscle pain and stiffness, and vision problems.

Jacqueline Krarup, from Cold Ashby, developed MS in her late 20s, experiencing numbness down one side.

For the last three years, Krarup has been unable to walk, however this does not change her positive attitude: "[Being in a wheelchair] opens up a lot of new ways of looking at life.

"Most days are good days, every now and then you get a really rubbish day [but] you carry on."

Krarup, one of the volunteers, said it was "really important to share stories" and their support groups were "good companionship."

"There have been the same people steering the group over the last few years, all affected by MS, [so it's] hard to find the time [to put on enough events.]

"It would be helpful to have a few fresh faces with fresh ideas."

Krarup said they most needed at least two or three people who could come up with ideas for fundraisers, update the website and medically trained staff to assist the nurses.

"The nurses are great but like all nurses, they just have so many patients."

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