Shine on MS - A Major Multiple Sclerosis Movement is now in Progress!

Shine on MS - A Major Multiple Sclerosis Movement is now in Progress!:

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MS stars unite to back a global movement to End MS

/PressPort/ --MS Station Inc. (MSstation.com and MSstation.TV) along with ‘Shine On MS’ (www.Shineonms.com) are uniting the MS Community on a Grand and Global Scale!!

NEVER FEEL ALONE WITH A MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS DIAGNOSIS AGAIN!!!!


You can hear us on MSstation.com and see us on MSstation.TV. Now, you can also chat with us on Shine On MS’www.shineonms.com! [http://shineonms.MSstation.com]
MSstation Inc. is Dedicated to Providing Global Awareness, Encouragement and Support for People Affected Directly or Indirectly by Multiple Sclerosis.
Radio Hosts of MSstation.com include a number of affluent people in the Multiple Sclerosis Community. Amy Gurowitz and Stuart Schlossman, are amongst the numbers involved in procuring MSstation Inc.’s Mission.
Amy Gurowitz, Founder of MS softServe www.MSsoftserve.com hosts MSLOL (Multiple Sclerosis Life of Learning) Radio www.MSLOLradio.com every 1st Wednesday.

MS SoftServe is Dedicated to Customized Learning about Multiple Sclerosis. MS SoftServe will give users control over what and how they learn about their unique version of MS, without exposing them to unwanted information that contribute to their anxiety while living with it”

Stuart Schlossman, Founder of MS Views and News Organization www.MSviewsandnews.org Hosts Stu MS Radiowww.MSStuMSradio.com every 4th Wednesday.

MS Views and News, Inc., is dedicated to the global collection and distribution of current information concerning Multiple Sclerosis. In collaboration with other organizations, MS Views and News (MSV&N) uses state-of-the-art communication channels to provide information for those affected by or interested in MS.
Like the Hosts the Founder Rae-Anne (Rae) Edwards also has Multiple Sclerosis. You don’t have to have MS to Host your own show on MSstation, just a passion to spread Awareness, Encouragement and Support!

About Shine On MS
A social network and community for those affected by Multiple Sclerosis. Shine On MS is a community for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis, MS Groups, researchers, campaigners and activists. Users can share, get support and interact with other members. The social network was created by MS campaigner Ryan Mclaughlin from Scotland. The teenager dedicated the social network to help fight for better rights for those with MS. The young health activist will use the platform as a campaign HQ to launch a worldwide campaign in 2012 to get politicial action taken to end the disease within a generation.
www.shineonms.com

About the Shine on Scotland Campaign
A campaign by 16 year old Ryan Mclaughlin to get vitamin D for every child and pregnant
mother as a preventative measure against Multiple Sclerosis www.shineonscotland.org.uk

For more information, please contact
Shine on MS - www.shineonms.com - Founder Ryan Mclaughlin - Phone 07580 461976 - Email 

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Advice U-turn after years of telling us to cover up

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

According to the old song, only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.

Yet the latest thinking is that maybe everyone should give it a try.

After years of urging us to cover up, a leading charity is expected to recommend short spells exposed to the sun at its highest.

The advice, from Cancer Research UK, reflects concern that current sunbathing recommendations are unnecessarily restrictive and are leading to low levels of vitamin D.

Although the vitamin is found in some foods, most of that found in the body comes from sunlight exposure, and most of us just don’t have enough of it.

In England, half of the population is low in the ’sunshine vitamin’ when winter ends, while in Scotland the proportion is two thirds.

As part of its remit to prevent skin cancer, the charity advises trying to stay out of the sun when it is at its peak and cover the skin with clothing and generous amounts of sunscreen.

But a confidential statement being prepared by the charity acknowledges that the evidence about the benefits of vitamin D is growing.

The vitamin is vital for calcium absorption and bone health, and could help ward off Alzheimer’s.

Recent research has shown that vitamin D supplements are as good as some drugs at keeping prostate cancer under control – and it is said that taking supplements in pregnancy and childhood could wipe out 80 per cent of cases of multiple sclerosis.

Read more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1292210/Midday-sun-GOOD-cancer-charity-suggest-new-guidance.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#ixzz0t0Loq7SF

MS Gene Expression is Regulated By Vitamin D

Expression of the Multiple Sclerosis-Associated MHC Class II Allele HLA-DRB1*1501 Is Regulated by Vitamin D

Abstract Top

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex trait in which allelic variation in the MHC class II region exerts the single strongest effect on genetic risk.

Epidemiological data in MS provide strong evidence that environmental factors act at a population level to influence the unusual geographical distribution of this disease.

Growing evidence implicates sunlight or vitamin D as a key environmental factor in aetiology.

We hypothesised that this environmental candidate might interact with inherited factors and sought responsive regulatory elements in the MHC class II region.

Sequence analysis localised a single MHC vitamin D response element (VDRE) to the promoter region of HLA-DRB1. Sequencing of this promoter in greater than 1,000 chromosomes from HLA-DRB1 homozygotes showed absolute conservation of this putative VDRE on HLA-DRB1*15 haplotypes. In contrast, there was striking variation among non–MS-associated haplotypes.

Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed specific recruitment of vitamin D receptor to the VDRE in the HLA-DRB1*15 promoter, confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments using lymphoblastoid cells homozygous for HLA-DRB1*15. Transient transfection using a luciferase reporter assay showed a functional role for this VDRE. B cells transiently transfected with the HLA-DRB1*15 gene promoter showed increased expression on stimulation with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (P = 0.002) that was lost both on deletion of the VDRE or with the homologous “VDRE” sequence found in non–MS-associated HLA-DRB1 haplotypes. Flow cytometric analysis showed a specific increase in the cell surface expression of HLA-DRB1 upon addition of vitamin D only in HLA-DRB1*15 bearing lymphoblastoid cells.

This study further implicates vitamin D as a strong environmental candidate in MS by demonstrating direct functional interaction with the major locus determining genetic susceptibility. These findings support a connection between the main epidemiological and genetic features of this disease with major practical implications for studies of disease mechanism and prevention.

Author Summary Top
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex neurological disease with a strong genetic component. The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) on chromosome 6 exerts the strongest genetic effect on disease risk. A region at or near the HLA-DRB1 locus in the MHC influences the risk of MS. HLA-DRB1 has over 400 different alleles. The dominant haplotype of Northern Europe, marked by the presence of DRB1*1501, increases risk of MS by 3-fold. The environment also plays a key role in MS. The most striking illustration of this is the geographical distribution of the disease in populations matched for ethnicity. This has led to the proposal that sunshine, and in particular, vitamin D, is an environmental factor influencing the risk of MS. Circumstantial evidence supporting this comes from studies showing the involvement of vitamin D in immune and nervous system function. The current investigation sought to uncover any relationship between vitamin D and HLA-DRB1. It was found that vitamin D specifically interacts with HLA-DRB1*1501 to influence its expression. This study therefore provides more direct support for the already strong epidemiological evidence implicating sunlight and vitamin D in the determination of MS risk, and implies that vitamin D supplementation at critical time periods may be key to disease prevention.

Sreeram V. Ramagopalan ^1,2#, Narelle J. Maugeri^1#, Lahiru Handunnetthi^1,2, Matthew R. Lincoln^1,2, Sarah-Michelle Orton^1,2, David A. Dyment^1,2, Gabriele C. DeLuca^1,2, Blanca M. Herrera^1,2, Michael J. Chao^1,2, A. Dessa Sadovnick^3,4, George C. Ebers^1,2*, Julian C. Knight^1*

¹ Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, ²Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom, ³ Department of Medical Genetics, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, UBC Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, ⁴ Faculty of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, UBC Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Source: Public Library of Science Genetics (20/05/10)

Shine the light on MS

Should Scotland introduce a Vitamin D supplementation programme?

When Ryan McLaughlin was 14 he found himself displaying symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Acutely aware of the condition as a result of his mother’s diagnosis two years previously, he was referred to Yorkhill hospital for tests. Hoping to learn of a cure, he sought answers on the internet and came across research from Oxford University, highlighting the link between Vitamin D deficiency and MS. 

“To be honest with you, I kind of discounted it at first, thinking it was a wee bit too simple,” says dad, Alan. “He went back upstairs and had another good read of the research and came back down and said would it not be just as easy to put the vitamins straight into the milk and then every child has protection. We thought that was a brilliant idea and that is really when we took notice.” With the help of the MS Society Scotland, Ryan, whose suffering turned out to be stress causing his body to mimic the symptoms of his mother’s condition, formed the Shine on Scotland campaign and took his proposals to the Scottish Parliament. His petition attracted over 1500 signatures and since then the Scottish Government has agreed to run an awareness campaign highlighting the links between Vitamin D, the so-called sunshine vitamin, and MS. 

However, his long-term aim remains that Vitamin D supplements be offered to every child and pregnant women. 

This goal was given a significant boost last week following the publication of an article in the Lancet Neurology journal. 

In addition to casting a spotlight on Scotland, the article also references the Shine on Scotland campaign and argues that as Vitamin D is an inexpensive supplement, the potential cost savings of such a programme are enormous. 

It continues: “In Europe, if the predicted effects of raising serum Vitamin D concentrations to 100 nmol/L are realised, the potential savings have been estimated to be €187 billion [c £160bn] per year from the direct and indirect burden of disease, set against an expenditure of €10 billion on testing and public education.” While it makes clear that trials are still needed to address questions about dosage levels and long-term implications, it nevertheless argues that given the high prevalence and incidence of MS in Scotland, as well as other diseases related to Vitamin D deficiency such as many types of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, “the benefits of supplementation are likely to outweigh any potential side-effects” and so should not be seen as an impediment to beginning a supplementation programme in the near future. 

The McLaughlin family are understandably delighted with the news and argue that a supplementation programme should be introduced without delay. 

“I think there has got to be some movement on it, one way or another now,” says Alan. 

“To go to a cohort study will take five years. 

To go to a randomised control study will probably be a ten-year process and we would be looking at probably another 15 years on top before we see a result and get proper data from it and that is too long. Children are suffering. The numbers are growing for MS for children vastly and obviously, people are being diagnosed a lot younger and that means folk are suffering now. So we can’t wait 15 to 20 years to get a result and then take action.” He continues: “A large study would cost between £10-25m. Whereas the Government literally could say we go and allow fortification for certain products at a higher dosage and share some of the burden and cost of that with the food industry and what you will have is healthier kids with a built up immune system at very little cost to the Government to implement it and hopefully, you will see an instant improvement in people’s health.” Certainly, the food industry is not waiting on the Government to make up its mind, he argues. 

“There are plans afoot already by several brands on the market to start putting Vitamin D into all sorts of foods. We’ve already seen it with powdered milk - SMA and Cow & Gate have already started putting it in. Nestle have started putting it into some of their products abroad but not in the UK. They have already brought out Vitamin D in Australia in Kit Kat bars. That will happen here as well, with the right encouragement.” There is growing international recognition of the issue, says Alan, pointing out that US President Barack Obama has recently launched a task force to look at Vitamin D deficiency and Ryan has already written to First Lady Michelle Obama, who is spearheading the ‘Let’s move’ campaign to end childhood obesity to tell her about his campaign in Scotland. 

“American groups are up in arms,” Alan says, “they really want it. North America, especially. 

Australia started campaigning last week. 

Germany kicks one off in a week’s time. 

“So it has caught on and the research is there to prove the theory. 

“I think we are way by the point where people don’t believe it anymore, it is now just about taking action and seeing how much it will help.” And there is a sense that Scotland is leading the field on this issue, argues Craig Wilkie, head of policy and communications, MS Society Scotland. 

“Partly that is because some of the most significant research has been done in the UK and has been taken up in a Scottish context throughout this campaign,” he says, “and from our perspective, the Scottish Government has been very receptive to looking at that, considering that and working with us to see what some of the implications might be.” There is certainly much to consider. In March a group of international experts, health professionals, politicians and patient representatives met in Brussels to call for action to address widespread deficiency of Vitamin D in Europe. 

“Most of the experts and health professionals there were very much of the view that this is quite a significant challenge and it was described by one of the participants as the low-lying fruit of public health - the next stage that governments could and should consider,” explains Wilkie, who attended the meeting. 

Unfortunately, the meeting tended to be a little bit focused on the academic research itself rather than some of the policies that politicians and governments might look at, he says. However, he is hopeful that the summit that is being hosted by MS Society Scotland with support from the Scottish Government later this year will provide a forum for such debate. 

The summit, which had been scheduled for April but was postponed due to the volcanic ash cloud, will now be held in Scotland in September. 

“It is quite exciting for us to be able to bring these people into the same room to look at a potentially important issue,” he says. 

“One of the things that is interesting, at least to me, about Vitamin D is that even though the research and the evidence is still emerging, and some of it is still at a reasonably early stage, I think, especially in the current climate, that it is important that the options we are looking at are relatively low cost. And even if the benefit as yet is not absolutely definitive, the potential benefit is actually quite big and at the same time, the risks seem to be very low. 

“So the combination of all those factors make it potentially quite a significant area to look at in relation to public health and one that might bring a lot of benefit for not very much investment.” Backing the Lancet article’s calls for action now on supplementation, Wilkie says he would like to see the Government giving serious consideration to a programme of supplementation for at-risk groups, such as young children, pregnant women, and certain ethnic minority groups who may tend to cover up and so do not receive the same exposure to the sun. 

However, alongside this he would also like to see more co-ordination of public health messages around how to boost levels of Vitamin D naturally. 

“By and large, the message on sunscreen and so on has been quite a successful one in public health terms. But one of the implications of that in a country like Scotland is that people are actually denying themselves the opportunity to get Vitamin D from the sun, which is the most obvious and plentiful source of it. Even ten, 15 minutes in the sun prior to putting on sunscreen can make a difference. So one of the things that we’ve been talking about with the Government is how you can try and coordinate some of those messages and look at some of the unintended consequences of certain health messages around sunscreen, for example.” While he says there is still a long way to go, he says it is remarkable what the Shine on Scotland campaign has managed to achieve in a relatively short time, which he credits in no small part to Ryan’s unstinting “enthusiasm and commitment”. 

“He is always looking for new opportunities to expand the campaign or add different dimensions to it. He is quite an extraordinary young man. So it is no surprise that he is getting things done,” Wilkie says. 

Alan is also proud of what his son has achieved. “He’s done a fantastic job with it. 

He’s got his own wee style in the way he speaks to the Government and to manage to get the whole government on side, he has done really well. 

“For the last year he has just been stuck in his room, apart from when he is doing his Taekwondo, researching and annoying politicians until they give in.” And he has been right to do so, Alan says. 

“It is not as if they are giving in for any reason other than that he’s right. The research is 40 years old now. It was only last year that Oxford University found that specific gene which proved the theory, but the Vitamin D hypothesis has been there for nearly going on 40 years. So it is about time something is done about it.”

McLaughlin Institute unveils $4.3 million expansion work

A $4.3 million expansion and renovation of McLaughlin Research Institute will give scientists more room to study and possibly find cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis.

"This expansion is important to furthering the research to cure the diseases that, sad to say, affect all of us," said Leslie Oakland, chairwoman of McLaughlin's fund drive committee, at Friday's dedication of the updated facility.

Oakland's committee raised $2.3 million for the expansion. That money was matched by a $2 million grant from the Montana Department of Commerce.

The construction, which took place over the last two years, added 6,000 square feet to McLaughlin's building, located at 1520 23rd St. S., and renovated another 13,000 square feet.

The changes will make room for two new scientists, one of whom started last year, and their mice.

"Our animal space has increased at least 40 percent," said Julie Amato, McLaughlin's animal resource center manager.

The McLaughlin Research Institute moved into its current building in 1993. It didn't take long for the institute to outgrow its mice-handling areas, said George Carlson, institute director.

"This project actually came about because of the success in generating mouse models to study disease," Carlson said.

Scientists at McLaughlin insert human DNA into mice, which creates a mouse model that can be used to study human diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's.

McLaughlin currently has about 15,000 mice, Amato said. She expects that to grow to 40,000 to 50,000 mice now that there is room for them.

The additional state-of-the-art space will help the institute recruit more scientists, she added.

The remodel also will help keep the mice sterile. The building's new design features separate areas for dirty mice and supplies, and clean mice and supplies. That will help keep the mice free of pathogens, Amato said. The expansion includes two new cage washers, which increases the number of animals that staff can care for on a daily basis.

The remodel was complicated by the fact that scientists continued their research in the building throughout the construction process.

"We didn't move the mice out," Carlson said.

During the project, staff had to make sure mice were in areas where they weren't disturbed by noise and vibration from the construction.

Sletten Construction Company, the general contractor for the project, did a great job of working around the scientists and their animals, Carlson said.

Tony Preite, state director of commerce, expects the expansion to bolster the Great Falls and Montana economies because of the high-paying jobs it will add. He also noted the importance of work that could lead to cures for certain diseases.

"This is an import project not only for Great Falls, not only for Montana, but for everyone on earth," he said.

The research McLaughlin scientists do is vital, Oakland added.

"We have to have basic bio-medical research," she said. "Without that, we couldn't treat these diseases."

Reach Tribune staff writer Erin Madison at 791-1466, 800-438-6600 oremadison@greatfallstribune.com.

Ryan Mclaughlin launches ‘Fortify Scotland’s school milk’ campaign

Ryan McLaughlin launches ‘Fortify Scotland’s school milk’ campaign

15 year old Ryan McLaughlin founder of the award winning Shine on Scotland campaign has launched a new social networking campaign to gain public support for his Idea of adding vitamin D to all school milk in Scotland. The 15 year old campaigner believes that vitamin D is so important to improving the health of scottish kids and wants to ascertain how many parents agree with him, using the social platform Facebook.


Ryan is asking scottish parents to join the group and have their say on the subject.


A recent scientific review undertaken by the Lancet said if Europe adopted his idea for supplementation the result would save Europe a incredible £165 billion a year.


The World Health Organisation have advised previously that Scotland should start a national supplementation program of vitamin d.


The campaigner says ‘much work still has to be done to get the RDA of vitamin D raised significantly and I will work with the Scottish Government, SACN and the FSA to get that done, but I am positive that fortifying school milk with vitamin D offers the best solution to offering protection to all kids in Scotland’


I am proud to say that the Scottish Government have been amazing in supporting my goals, they have really listened and acted on the current evidence in support of vitamin D, as more evidence is put in place I believe that the case for fortification of school milk will increase, the Scottish government have not ruled out my proposal for fortified school milk they have said  that following advice from the FSA Scotland, the Scottish Government believes that it would not be appropriate to introduce fortified milk (or other fortified drinks) at school until such time as the evidence base is more conclusive about the impact on the population.


However this was said before new research released by the scottish government and the announcement that NHS Scotland said there was now an ‘urgent need to educate women and that all pregnant mothers and all children up to the age of 4 should be taking vitamin D everyday’.


Now that BUPA have said that they believe vitamin D could prevent cancer and Israel announced all 3% milk is to be fortified I think we need to ask the Scottish Government to look at this again as the evidence is certainly more conclusive and it can only have a healthy impact on the population .





Almost all milk in the US is fortified with vitamin D, Israel has moved to fortify all 3% milk, Jordan has agreed to fortify all bread and canada has opted for national supplementation.


http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=150104079977&ref=nf

Ryan Mclaughlin confirms a new campaign video coming soon

Ryan Mclaughlin has confirmed that he is finalising a new film script for a new youtube campaign due to be launched early July 2010, the new Shine on Scotland campaign film will look to expand on the aim of the Shine On Scotland campaign and to raise further awareness of vitamin D and the link to MS.

Ryan Mclaughlin wants to spread the message of vitamin D and the possible prevention of  MS .

He believes that Multiple Sclerosis does not wear a flag, MS crosses all borders and unites us all together to prevent it !  MS prevention is now a global fight it’s a movement to prevent this disease for our children !


Follow the campaign at http://www.shineonscotland.org.uk

schoolboy campaigner calls for vitamin D programme to help fight MS

Scientists studying the high incidence of multiple sclerosis in Scotland have urged the Holyrood Government to introduce a nationwide programme of vitamin D supplements for pregnant women and children to help combat the disease.

Under the heading Vitamin D: hope on the horizon for MS prevention? the June issue of The Lancet Neurology insists the benefits of supplementation outweigh any potential side effects and concludes “given the low costs, low toxicity … steps to tackle vitamin D deficiency in high-risk populations seem warranted.”

Vitamin D is sometimes known as the “sunshine drug”. The new research specifically identifies Scotland among a number of high-latitude countries — with long, dark winters — that have a higher than average incidence of MS. Around 10,500 people in Scotland have the disease which is the country’s most common disabling neurological condition, typically affecting sufferers from their late 20s and 30s.

The Lancet’s intervention follows a succession of studies which have demonstrated the link between Vitamin D deficiency and a number of health conditions, including rickets, type 1 (or early onset) diabetes, heart disease, infectious diseases and some forms of cancer.

The authors of the report concede that the link between Vitamin D deficiency and MS is not definitively proved, but add that assembling data on MS prevention could take decades. They argue that dietary supplement were likely to provide wider health benefits that would quickly result in a reduction in government health spending.

Welcoming the findings, David McNiven of the MS Society Scotland said his organisation would continue to support the Shine on Scotland campaign, lobbying for Vitamin D Supplements.

“The Lancet article is very encouraging because it endorses the arguments that we have been making: that vitamin D supplementation represents a low-cost, low-risk public health intervention with potentially massive benefits,” said Mr McNiven.

The new research leaves little doubt of the wider benefits of supplementation. The authors write: “If the predicted effects of raising serum vitamin D concentrations … are realised, the potential savings have been estimated to be £160 billion from the direct and indirect burden of the disease, set against an expenditure of £8.5 billion on testing and public education.”

The paper concludes: “Because any benefits for MS in particular will take decades to emerge, a long-term outlook is needed from policymakers, but future health and financial benefits have the potential to make this investment highly rewarding.”

Last year, researchers in North America suggested that high doses of vitamin D could dramatically cut the relapse rate in people with multiple sclerosis. According to scientists in Canada, more than a third of sufferers taking high levels of supplementation did not fall ill during the period of the trial, representing a marked change in the pattern of their disease.

Like Scotland, Canada has a high rate of MS and there is growing evidence that this is connected to a cloudy climate, where weaker ultraviolet B rays during the winter months are insufficient for people to produce enough Vitamin D.

Neurologists at the University of Toronto, studied 25 people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. During the year of treatment 40 per cent of patients on the low dose of vitamin D (1,000 international units daily) experienced a relapse compared to only 16 per cent of those in the high dose (14,000 IU daily) group.

People taking the high dose of vitamin D suffered 41 per cent fewer relapses than the year before the study began, compared with 17 per cent of those taking typical doses. Dr Burton found that those taking high doses of vitamin D did not suffer any significant side effects.

The MS Society Scotland has organised an international summit in September, where the link between vitamin D deficiency and the disease will be discussed. They hope to persuade Scottish ministers to take action on vitamin D as a pressing public health issue.

Miss Scotland ready to hit the heights

MISS Scotland Katharine Brown and DJ Suzie McGuire have signed up to join Celts ace Gary Caldwell in a Bighearted charity climb up Mount Kilimanjaro

The daring celebs have agreed to take part in the Comic Relief-style trek up the 19,340ft Tanzanian mountain next summer.

We told earlier this month how Hoops defender Gary volunteered for the adventure at our glitzy Bighearted Scotland Awards.

He was impressed with the plan to conquer Africa’s highest peak by award-winners Ryan McLaughlin, 14, and Allan Thomas, 41 – and now Kath and Suzie will join them too.

Kath, 22, from Dunblane, Perthshire, said: “I was thrilled to be asked and immediately said yes.
“I’ve always wanted to climb that mountain – I’m drawn to it.”

Clyde 1’s Suzie, 35, from Eaglesham, Renfrewshire, added: “I’m definitely up for it – but I am nervous.”
Gary, 27, said: “I’m really excited about Kilimanjaro. As long as the dates don’t clash with football commitments I’ll do it.

“There are a couple of others in the dressing room who want to climb it too.”

Aberdonian Allan, who won our Fundraiser of the Year, and Child of the Year Ryan, of Drumchapel, Glasgow, hope the trek will raise £100,000 for the six Bighearted Scotland charities, plus their own causes.

www.shineonscotland.org.uk

Will the swine flu floor those with MS

I like everyone effected by Multiple Sclerosis and other with autoimmune disorders, this swine flu scares us all, but what are the risks to the ones that we love ?

Should we keep our loved ones indoors? are they at severe risk?