About us

Shift.ms is a web-based charity for young people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

We recognize that one size doesn't fit all, so our aim is to provide MS’ers with a platform to share their experiences with others in similar situations to help you get to grips with MS.

The ideas and info on this site are user generated and therefore based on experience. The floor is yours, do with it what you will and hopefully we can show each other that by thinking outside the box, we can continue to live it up and let the good times roll!

If going round for a chat with your gran's neighbour who's had MS for donkeys years doesn't quite cut the mustard, do not fear! Shift.ms allows you to create a profile and contact fellow MS'ers with similar interests or who live nearby. Remember: MS is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20-40, so we're out there, we just need to find each other.

We know from experience that trying to come to terms with MS whilst at the same time trying to help those close to us understand it, is difficult and frustrating. There is a ‘Rough Guide' which explains what MS is and how it affects people in simple English - perfect for helping family and friends get to grips with the illness. For all the information the web can offer about MS, and that's a whole lot, see ‘Little Black Book' which will take you straight to the most relevant pages out there.

We are at the beginning, and hope with your input we can create a vibrant community, a force to be reckoned with. Yeah, you need to adapt, look after yourself for sure, but don't go changing too much!

FAQs

We’ve only just launched and no question has been asked enough to warrant being included in this section. However, if you have a question please get in touch. You never know, one day it may end up on here!

Behind the scenes

Shift.ms is run by George Pepper (gpeps), who came up with the idea after his own diagnosis in 2004, aged 22.

Freddie Yauner (freddie.ms), a good friend of George, helps with the running of Shift.ms and is in charge of making things look good.

Allison Macleod (Ally) and Gus Alexiou (westlondonwideboy), fellow MS’ers, have helped shape Shift.ms with their ideas on what people affected by MS really want.

James Alexander (jimbois17), works at Hill and Knowlton and helps us communicate, Graham Cooke (thegreyham) works at Google and keeps us up to date with the web and George’s wiser sister, Nicky Pepper (nickypep), keeps us in financial order.

Katie Bretherick (Katie), George's girlfriend, works at Lucre and is a fantastic help with all aspects of Shift.ms (and is incredibly patient!).

Shift.ms is supported by our resident health professionals; Dr Simon Shields (simonsays), Consultant Neurologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Kate Watkiss (kate), Specialist MS Nurse at the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford.

Also, a big thank you to Will White, Hugo Pilcher, Nick Sandham, Paul Fleming, Alex Hamilton and George's parents, John and Margie Pepper, for their help in setting up Shift.ms.

Thank you

A massive thank you to all the amazing fundraisers who have taken part in all sorts of events to raise money for Shift.ms:

Katie Cooper, Lucy Wigan, Rob Hough, Charlie Butcher, ‘Jungle’ Josh Whitehead, Jamie Bentley, Frances Marden, Hugo Pilcher, Ed Cooper, George Murray Willis, Nick Sandham, Adam Gostyn, Sam Yauner, Digger Cooke-Hurle, Jo Waddington, Maxine Cadzow, Georgina I’Anson, Heidi Humphrey, George Nelson, Justin Addleton, Kevin Allgood, Ele Dalton

to all the people who help make the site possible:

Andrew Previte, Nicola Russell and all at the MS Trust, Dr Mike Boggild, Prof Giovannoni, John Pohorely, Bernie Porter, Dr Viquar Chamoun, MS Society, Gale Stephens, Rhona Maclean, Rosie Arkwright, Alicia Manji, Benjamin Cohen

and finally big thanks to:

Mel (Melba) and Julia and all at Emak Mafu for their amazing work with the design of the site and Stephen, Steve and everyone at iUVO Design for their hard work in turning the designs into a fully functioning website.

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