Mum with MS scales Mount Etna to raise £80k for her new charity
Toni Krok and her family and friends completed their Mount Etna challenge Picture: MS Positive - Credit: Archant
A Golders Green mum with multiple sclerosis (MS) has successfully climbed Mount Etna, raising £80,000 for her new charity.
Toni Krok, who was diagnosed with the neurological condition around eleven years ago which largely affects the left side of her body, went with 25 of her friends and family to the active volcano last weekend and ascended more than 2000 metres over a three day period.
Mrs Krok said she felt like the “queen of the world” when she reached her target of 50km.
“It was such an amazing experience,” she said.
“Everything went to plan. It was the ultimate journey of my life.”
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Mrs Krok, who was born in Johannesburg, embarked on the trip last Saturday to raise awareness for her charity, MS Positive. She hopes the charity will provide a platform to help other families who are affected by MS.
This wasn’t her first climb; two years ago, she scaled a mountain in Cape Town.
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The Golders Green resident paid special tribute to her trainer Colin Church, who was with her every step of the way and was her ‘rock’.
And she couldn’t contain her excitement and relief on the third day when she realised that she was going to complete her challenge.
“Day three was certainly the best day. I actually found the second day the most challenging, but it is about the determination and going from A-B. I knew I had to face the number of km that I did and it was all about focus,” she said.
“My friends and family were so supportive, the camaraderie within the group was fantastic. This was just a life changing experience.”
The money raised will help towards launching MS Positive. Mrs Krok would like to create a phoneline that people can call into with their issues, in the hope their concerns can be solved or at least be reassured.
MS affects around 100,000 people in the UK. Symptoms can vary but usually start in a person’s 20s or 30s. Common symptoms include dizziness, balance problems, stiffness, spasms,. Almost three times as many women are affected than men.
