Glossop dad helps raise £35k for MS Society

Tim Barnett was only 34 when he found out he had MS in 2009. He’d had vision problems in his left eye for about six months but his symptoms now include aching, fatigue and numbness in his fingertips.

The part-time maths teacher started fundraising for the MS Society with the Buxton and Glossop Friends Fighting MS Group as soon as he was diagnosed. Events have included brass band and male voice choir concerts. They are now close to £35,000.

Tim, 39, said the initial shock of diagnosis was awful: “It was a body blow and had a massive impact on my family. We were very shocked and taken aback as at the time we didn’t understand anything about MS at all. Over the years, we’ve all come to know a lot about it.”

The father-of-one added: “My main support has obviously come from my wife, Emma, and also my parents and my parents-in-law. They’re always there to listen and to try and help. Every Friday morning my parents leave home in North Wales at 5.45am to come to Glossop to look after Ralph so Emma and I can go to work; it’s just fantastic.”