The Merlin Multiple Sclerosis Centre

When I (Jane) was growing up I do not remember back far enough to the day when this photograph was taken of my father holding me in his arms, standing at our front gate. I must have been about two years old and had three older brothers 2, 4 and 6 years older than me. That was around the time that my dad was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and sadly I do not ever remember him walking.

The diagnosis was a hard hit for a young man who up until that point had enjoyed a life full of physical challenges. Dad was a highly competitive and successful track and road cyclist and a very keen sailor and mountaineer. MS not only meant that he had to give up all these activities, he was also unable to continue his work as an engineer and eventually after suffering with this debilitating disease for over 20 years, he needed a great deal of support with personal care and day-to-day chores with very little control or strength remaining in his muscles. Dad died just seven years ago, so we are doing the expedition in his memory and for other MS sufferers in the SW and their families, all supported by Merlin MS Centre.

Some facts about MS:

• Most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20 and 40, although some people have the condition undiagnosed for many years, and there are more women than men with the condition. It can strike without warning and symptoms include muscle spasms, tremors, incontinence, numbness of fingers and toes, loss of or limited limb usage, blindness etc. The symptoms can disable rapidly or remain relatively mild for many years – the disease affects people in different ways.
• While there is currently no cure for MS, the therapies enable people to better manage their conditions and symptoms to improve their quality of life, health and well-being.
• Cornwall has the highest incidence of MS in mainland Britain, with more than 1000 people diagnosed in the county at present. The Merlin Centre, which is located in mid-Cornwall, between St. Austell and Truro is a place for therapy, support and advice for people with the condition and for their carers and family members.
• The Merlin MS Centre is an independent Cornish charity for people whose lives are affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a progressive neurological condition that affects the central nervous system.
• The charity receives no Government funding and therefore relies on fundraising in the local community and grants to meet its annual running costs of £250,000.
• Services provided by the Merlin MS Centre include physiotherapy, exercise and occupational therapies, hyperbaric oxygen treatment, a range of complementary therapies, podiatry, counselling, yoga and Pilates. The charity also extends its support to those with other neurological conditions.

---

The RNLI

When at sea, we know that if we needed it, help could be at hand very quickly; thanks to the RNLI. ‘Prevention is always better than cure’ and we certainly do not plan to put ourselves in a vulnerable position at any point during our expedition. However, all too often, people do find themselves in difficulties at sea and around the British coast, so we would like to show our support of the selfless work of the RNLI in raising funds for them through our journey.The RNLI save hundreds of lives around British waters every year and it is reassuring to know that the Coastguard and RNLI will have half an eye on us as we paddle our way round the coast.

• The RNLI provides, on call, a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service and a seasonal lifeguard service. The RNLI has an active fleet of over 330 lifeboats and RNLI lifeguards patrol more than 180 beaches around the UK and the Channel Islands, last year saving 84 lives and assisting 17,671 people around the coast. Our aim is to expand our lifeguarding service, so that every region that needs lifeguard cover on its beaches has seasonal patrols.
• Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboats, and since 2001, its lifeguards, have saved more than 139,000 lives.
• More and more people are using beaches and the sea for leisure and RNLI crews and lifeguards are responding to an increased number of incidents.

^Top of Page^