A ‘wheel and walk’ event is taking place at the NSC on Saturday 29th April to fundraise for the Isle of Man branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

With a ‘mass start’ at 10.15am at the NSC cycle track, it is open to anyone, whether they are able- bodied, walk with a stick, crutches or a frame, are in a wheelchair or use a scooter. The only thing they have to be is sponsored, either by lap or just for taking part. Friends, co-workers and family are welcome to join in.

“Wheel and Walk events are popular across, but we’ve never organised one here before,” says Derek Patience, Chairman of the MS Society Isle of Man. “This year to coincide with MS Awareness Week which runs from 24thto 30th April and with the help and encouragement of the NSC, we’ve got the use of the cycle race track for the morning of Saturday 29th April, to both raise money and raise awareness. Most people with MS can’t even contemplate running a marathon, climbing a mountain or doing the Parish Walk, so the MS Society Wheel and Walk is a great opportunity for those with any level of ability or disability to take part and be sponsored themselves, rather than just be asked to sponsor someone else. I've set myself a target of six laps and I'll be wheeling myself around, and we've already got others signed up to do laps on their mobility scooters or with their walking sticks.”

But even if you haven’t got MS, Derek wants you join in: “We definitely don’t want to exclude anyone,” he says. “It’s going to be a really enjoyable, very different way to raise money and as every person with multiple sclerosis has family and friends who see and experience the devastating effects of the condition, we’d like them to come along, and be sponsored to take part too.”

Registration is just ?10, and you can sign up by contacting Derek on 480755 or via email at derekpatience@hotmail.com. Derek will also be able to send you a sponsor form, or, if you’d rather not handle cash or cheques, you can ask your sponsors to go online to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/IsleofManwheelandwalk and make a donation there.

“Like all charities, we depend on the generosity of our supporters,” says Derek, “and, to put it bluntly, we need more money. More people on the Island are being diagnosed with this life-long, life-limiting and still incurable condition, and we are seeing a rise in the number of requests for our help. It all costs money.

“The ultimate aim of the Multiple Sclerosis Society is, as it says on our poster, to ‘kiss goodbye to MS’,” he continues. “We not only give direct help to people with MS on the Island, but we also like to give our own donation to research to help find a cure. The more money we can raise with our Isle of Man Wheel and Walk event, the better.”

Photo - Wheel and Walk poster.