Big fundraiser for multiple sclerosis cause is a drag

Sharon Everett, 52, has raised £3,300 for the MS Society and MS-UK, which is based in Colchester, after hosting a drag night at the Colchester’s Community Stadium.

Mrs Everett, of St John’s, Colchester, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 19 years ago but remains positive and hopes to help others.

She said social events organised by the MS Society, such as weekly yoga classes which she attends, are getting increasingly popular and she said she wants to raise funds for the charity.

She said: “We are like an MS family and it’s important to have these social events.

“We have new people coming all the time so it is needed.”

A number of the MS social events take place during the day, and Mrs Everett wanted to offer something which people living with MS who still working can attend.

She got the idea to host a drag night after being entertained by a drag act, the Glamour Girls, while on holiday in Turkey.

She said: “We thought of the idea of hiring them for a fundraiser when they were back in the UK in the winter months and instantly thought of raising money for multiple sclerosis.

“It was a great night full of laughter, even those that weren’t sure about coming thoroughly enjoyed it. That made it even more worthwhile.”

Mrs Everett was also raising funds to help find a cure for the debilitating disease.

She said there are are lot of people in the UK living with the illness which can effect their physical abilities as well as having “invisible symptoms.”

She said: “You have good days and bad days, for me it has been a slow thing but you can have a relapse which can knock you back but a lot of people who have relapses don’t go back to the strength they were before.”

She said she hopes her fundraising will inspire others to also raise funds for the two causes.