A massive hello to you! From me and my wonderful, supportive & caring Karndean Kapers version 3 (this is the third year in a row that we are gonna get our colour on!

Thank you for dropping by to read a little about why we are doing this - the support I receive from my workplace & staff at Karndean Designflooring is amazing! 

In October 2004 my whole world changed when after collapsing at work and many tests the doctor informed me "You have Multiple Sclerosis", of course I knew little about the disease except you read books for the MS Readathon and gave to a charity! After the initial tears and panic I just said to the doctor "ok so I just need some antibiotics then", he then (in his very serious dr voice) says "there is no cure!.........You will have this until the day you die!!!" Now unless you have had one of these conversations about yourself you cant quite grasp the meaning of those words.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that impacts each person in a unique way. It's sometimes called a "designer disease" because no two people living with the illness have exactly the same presentation of symptoms.  The most common form of MS has periods of relapses followed by periods of recovery. However, as time goes on disability accumulates.

Multiple Sclerosis is a lifelong disease that can affect your brain, spinal cord and the optic nerves. It can cause problems with vision, balance, muscle control and other basic body functions.  Some people have mild symptoms and don't need treatment, others will have trouble getting around and doing daily tasks.  MS happens when your immune system attacks a fatty material called myelin, which wraps around your nerve fibres to protect them. Without this outer shell, your nerves become damaged.

The damage means your brain can't send signals through your body correctly, your nerves also don't work as they should to help you move and feel, as a result you may have symptoms like:

• Trouble walking
• Feeling tired
• Muscle weakness or spasms
• Blurred or double vision
• Numbness and tingling
• Pain
• Depression
• Sexual problems
• Poor bladder & bowel control
• Problems focusing or remembering 

To help keep us functioning in today's world we have many options for medication, unfortunately for some this doesn't help. I personally have attempted 6 different types - which all did not keep my symptoms at bay, but in October last year I got the chance to have a newish drug (to Australia) called Lemtrada, this was 5 days of intravenous steroids for 2 hours plus 6 hours of Lemtrada & 2 hours of monitoring (Yes! That's a 10 hour day feeling extremely unwell) & that was a good day, it was longer if you had any bad reactions (which of course not being able to breathe was one of them which I excelled at) then the weeks turning into months of recovery. It was the hardest thing I have put my body through to date (and we get to do it all again In a years time).  But I sit here now typing out my story feeling "almost normal", yes I still have symptoms but the energy I have is insane compared to how I was just a few months ago. I have been the "wallflower" with most things because I was afraid of using too much energy, (spoons in MS language) but since treatment I have danced the night away and taken my dog Roxy for walks which I both enjoyed.

In saying all that have decided to make a difference by creating my very own fundraising appeal for helping find a cure for MS. Through here you can easily support my efforts by making a secure donation. I would also really appreciate it if you could share my page above or comment below so more people know about it.

Click 'Donate Now' to make a secure online donation.

Thanks so much for your support! From the Karndean Kapers version 3