New MS research charity

A NEW charity to raise money to help fund research into why Shetland and Orkney have one of the highest rates of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the world has been set up.

The Shetland Multiple Sclerosis Research Project aims to raise £30,000 over the next three years.

The money will be match funded by the Centre of Population Health Sciences at Edinburgh University, which has accumulated a mass of MS data and test results over the years.

A PhD student from the university will carry out the research.

Former councillor Tom Stove, one of the founding members of the charity, said they were following the wishes of the late Cecil Eunson (himself a sufferer of MS) who had always advocated that more research into the genetic disease was needed.

He added: “We are confident that the people of Shetland and Orkney will come out to support our project as this will be of benefit to MS sufferers in Orkney and the whole of north of Scotland too.”

The group is currently in the process of being registered as a charity.

Its founding members are: Ronnie Eunson, David Eva, Bobby Hunter, Robert Spanswick as well as Alma and Tom Stove.

one interested to get involved should contact Mrs Stove on 01950 431 434.