Jonathan Djanogly, Member of Parliament for the Huntingdon constituency has recently been appointed the patron of the Huntingdon, Peterborough and Cambridge (HPC) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapy Centre.
The HPC MS Therapy Centre, which is based on Mayfield Road in Huntingdon, is an independently run charity that offers a range of therapy treatments to sufferers of MS, many of which are not available on the NHS.
Mr Djanogly said
'I am delighted to accept the role of patron to the MS Therapy Centre. MS is a condition that affects about 100,000 people in the UK but public awareness of the disease is generally limited. This is a great opportunity for me to help raise the level of understanding of MS and promote this very worthy cause.
'There is no cure for MS and it is difficult to predict how MS will influence people's lives, as it is different in every sufferer. HPC MS Therapy Centre does not receive funding from the government, NHS, local authorities or the MS Society so relies heavily on the work of volunteers and donations. I am delighted to be able to lend my support to such a worthwhile cause that helps support so many people in Huntingdonshire.'
BACKGROUND
Note:MS is a disease that affects the Central Nervous System (CNS) in the body, which consists of the brain, the spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms of MS are the consequence of damage to the fatty sheath called Myelin that protects nerve cells. When this protective layer is damaged, it leaves a layer of scar tissue known as sclerosis. This has an impact on the brain's ability to send messages to the body via electrical impulses.
There is no cure for MS and its causes are still debated amongst scientists. It is difficult to predict how MS will influence people's lives, as it is different in every sufferer. Indeed someone with MS is likely to experience periods of relapse, where the symptoms progress and periods of remission where it appears to be benign.
Though MS itself is not fatal, those with the condition are likely to face numerous difficulties throughout their life, and are faced with the never-ending uncertainty of when they may be faced with a relapse of the condition. Symptoms vary and have a very wide range of effects but common symptoms include vision loss, weakness or paralysis of a limb and difficulties in memory and thinking. As symptoms progress and the level of disability increases a persons working, family and social lives are likely to be affected.
There is no apparent connection in families to the occurrence of MS and the chance of a child of an MS sufferer also inheriting the condition are very low. You cannot catch MS and it is not contagious but it is often suggested that it may be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, many people with the same genes and exposed to the same conditions will not develop MS, so the condition remains very much a mystery.
If you would like more information on how you can help or make a donation to the HPC MS Therapy Centre details can be found on their website (www.mstc.fsworld.co.uk). "