On Sunday 21^st March Martin Salter, Labour MP for Reading West and Anneliese Dodds, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Reading East, will be running in the Reading Half Marathon event in aid of the Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre. With two other team members, the Labour Party foursome will each be running a three mile leg of the Corporate Relay Challenge under the name of ‘Martin’s Midnight Runners’. The annual event totals approximately 80 teams from the South East region and will take place at the Madejski Stadium.

The Labour duo recognise the tremendous role the Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre plays in the local community for those affected by Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis is an incurable and unpredictable disease affecting the central nervous system. The Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre provides therapies for people with Multiple Sclerosis in Berkshire and the surrounding counties, giving them the power to manage their disease rather than letting it control their lives, and keeping them as mobile and independent as possible. The Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre is also an official sponsor of this year’s Corporate Relay Challenge.

Mr Salter and Ms Dodds have set up a Justgiving page to help raise as much money as possible for their chosen charity. It can be found at        www.justgiving.com/Martin-Salter-MP. Mr Salter, Patron of the charity, will be taking part for the last time as a Member of Parliament. The event follows his parachute jump from 10,000ft last September which raised over £1200 for the same organisation.

Mr Salter said:-

“I was delighted and at my age a little daunted to be invited to run in this year’s Reading Half Marathon. But I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to raise money for the Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, one of my favourite local charities, who do such an excellent job for those suffering from this crippling condition. I begin a gentle training programme over the next few weeks and I’m looking forward to once again participating in one of the finest events in the Reading calendar.

Anneliese Dodds, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Reading East added:-

“I’m delighted to be part of the Reading Labour Party team raising money for the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre. So many people are affected by MS or have friends or family who have suffered from this unpredictable and incurable disease. The Centre does fantastic work and I really hope we can raise lots of funds to support it”.

Jackie McColm of the Berkshire Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre stated:-

“Martin Salter has been the Patron of the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre for many years and we are delighted that he will be taking part in the Reading Half Marathon Corporate Relay Challenge on Sunday 21^st March to raise much needed funds for this local charity. In addition to Martin’s team we have 25 runners in the Half Marathon and a team of 40 marshals outside the Madejski who will be cheering him on”.