[James]

BB Star Liam to Run London Marathon
Posted : Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:05:43 GMT
Author : Multiple Sclerosis Society

LONDON, March 5 /PRNewswire/ --


Big Brother 8 star Liam McGough is in training ahead of this year's London Marathon, which he is running in aid of the MS Society.

Liam's mum suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS) - the UK's most common disabling neurological disorder - and the BB star said he wanted to "give something back".

He said: "I want to raise awareness of the condition as well as hopefully some money for the MS Society to feel like I am giving something back. I know from what my Mam has been through how hard the condition can be to live with."

Liam found fame when he appeared in series 8 of Big Brother. He added: "I went into the Big Brother house for the experience and I knew it would be great fun, but I also wanted to give my Mam the chance to watch me every day. She spends most of her time in bed because of her MS and I thought that if I was on the TV she could keep an eye on me!"

Before his debut at the marathon, Liam will be taking to the catwalk at MS Life in Manchester on March 29 and 30 with models who all have experiences of MS. For more information see http://www.msconvention.org.uk

Around 85,000 people in the UK have MS and the MS Society (http://www.mssociety.org.uk) is the UK's largest charity dedicated to supporting anyone affected by MS - through providing respite care, an award-winning freephone helpline (0808-800-8000), specialist MS nurses and funding around 40 MS research projects.

To sponsor Liam go to http://www.justgiving.com/liammcgough. If you have a place in this year's marathon and would like to run for the MS Society call the events fundraising team on 0870 241 3565.

Notes to Editors:

- MS is the result of damage to myelin - the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system - which interferes with messages between the brain and the body.

- For some people, MS is characterised by periods of relapse and remission while for others it has a progressive pattern.

- Symptoms range from loss of sight and mobility, fatigue, depression and cognitive problems.

Multiple Sclerosis Society

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/s...n,302827.shtml