"I was diagnosed in 2005 with relapsing-remitting MS and in the last three years have gone into secondary progressive MS.

With MS, I experience issues with balance, speech, coordination and being slow at everything! I walk with the aid of a walker, and sometimes I find this very challenging. I no longer drive, but I have a mobility scooter that gives me the independence I need. Even though I cannot take passengers, it is useful to visit friends or do the shopping. I also have speech difficulties, and sometimes this is embarrassing. I notice numbness in both my thumbs and two fingers; this has affected my arts and crafts which I love, and the effort in picking up little things can be so frustrating!

Although I am now limited, I still like to try new things my way! Last year I went tandem skydiving in Motueka. Although I landed on my rear end, as planned, the experience was awesome! I have been supported and encouraged to attend a weekly group at MS Nelson to work with a trained exercise instructor and participate in activities. I am engaging better with others and not feeling so isolated. I have become stronger, more confident in myself, and my thought processes have improved. It is a safe environment, to share my own experiences with others, who are facing MS and challenges, just like me!"

About Us

As a not for profit organisation we rely on fundraising, grants, and donations to maintain our services as we receive very little in government funding. Every dollar makes a difference and is very much appreciated by our members who benefit from support that we provide.

Our over-arching Health and Wellbeing programme has been developed to enable our Field Worker to deliver a preventative, pragmatic and collaborative service to our members through home visits, advocacy, education, support and exercise groups.

By providing this to our members, their families, and carers, we see better symptom management and a sense of belonging and connection to our community. Our society endeavours to help our members experience a better quality of life each day