My name is Toni Krok and I’m 40 years old. I have 2 gorgeous girls aged 13 and 10, and a caring and supportive husband called Dov.
Ten years ago, I was diagnosed with MS. When I heard the words Multiple Sclerosis I immediately thought I was going to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair.
Over time, I came to understand that MS affects everyone differently. Like everybody else, I have good and bad days. But I am very stubborn and I determined not to let the MS get the better of me. I have learned how to look after myself and responded with positive thinking, exercise and healthy eating.
I am very lucky – I have a supportive family and friends, and we are financially comfortable – and it makes a huge difference. As I talked to others with MS, however, I quickly realized that they didn’t have the same advantages that I had and that made it much, much harder for them to be positive about living with the MS.
Initially, I responded by getting together with some friends to raise some money for the MS Society. It’s an amazing charity undertaking a huge range of work to fight MS, from medical research and campaigning to providing information and making grants. I really recommend you check out their website.
But still I felt something was missing. I wanted to provide the personal, bespoke emotional and practical support that, with the best will in the world, is always a challenge for an organisation on the scale of the MS Society.
So I have got together with my friends, Janine and Pam, and we have decided to launch MS Positive, not to replace existing support networks and organisations but to complement them with a phone-line staffed by and for people with MS, exercises classes, wellness advice and so on. It’s all about supporting individuals and families personally and being small.
As ever, I have given myself a huge amount to do, but the excitement starts here. Please join me on my journey.
Toni x
Leave A Comment