Caring for a sufferer

If someone in your family has the disease, are other members of the family tested for it?

'No, I don't think it is hereditary and a full diagnosis requires a lumber puncture, which I think hospitals would be reluctant to do.'

After losing your mum to MS, isn't it tempting to forget about it and just do things for yourself?

'MS isn't something I could ever forget about as it has always been a part of my life and will be a part of me forever.

'I miss having my mum to look after. I always called her 'my baby' as she needed me and I did enjoy looking after her - she was my mum and I loved her very much. That is why I made the decision to stay living at home, to be near her. I sincerely believe she battled for as long as my brother and I lived at home with her and my grandparents would visit once a week, so we all gave her something to live for. She was loved so much and that love kept her alive.'

Tell me about the Bigfoot challenge. What is it and how did you get involved?

'After mum died, my friends suggested doing Bigfoot - a 50 kilometre charity walk - in memory of her. They were all affected when she died and they wanted to do something positive in her memory. They found out about it on the MS website so we decided to enter a team, 'Linda's Ladies'. My boyfriend also took part so there was a token boy as well!

We should have trained but we didn't, which was a big mistake! I thought I was pretty fit - I ran the marathon for MS in 2004 - but it didn't prepare me for walking 50 kilometres uphill and cross-country in the Cotswolds! As a team we raised about £3,000, and my friends and I are going to take part in Bigfoot every year from now on, in memory of mum.'

What would you like to see happen next?

'Continued research on the cause of MS is of paramount importance. If we knew the cause I think that would be the catalyst in finding the cure.'