Elisabeth Golding, Norway 2008

Elisabeth Golding has cared for her husband John for over 21 years. Not only has she enabled John to participate as an MSIF Board member, past Chairman of MSIF’s Persons with MS International Committee and current Vice President of the EMSP, but she continues to be active in her own right and is Vice Chair of her local branch and volunteers at a national level too.

Elisabeth chose to use her award monies to enable two people from her local MS branch to take a holiday.

Susana Carballido Perdigón, Uruguay 2007

Susana was recognised for her dedication and commitment not only to her daughter, Lorena, but to all those affected by MS with whom she works at the University Hospital in Montevideo, Uruguay.

With the award, Susana visited the MS Society of Argentina (EMA) headquarters to learn more about MS and to attend a training course on how to train other volunteers and caregivers of people with MS in Uruguay.

Maria Fleta, Poland 2006

When Maria and Marek married in 1977, Marek was already diagnosed with MS and had to stop working. In 1982, after an optic neuritis attack left Marek partially blind, Maria encouraged him to found a local MS society in Gniezo, Poland. Maria not only cared for Marek but enabled him to attend meetings and visit people with MS in their local community. In 1998, Maria retired from her 32-year teaching career and became more active within the local society by taking on the role of secretary.

Maria’s support for her husband led her to collaborate with the Polish Association for the Blind in the organisation of rehabilitation for those whose sight had been affected by MS. She has also been instrumental in the formation of new local MS societies in Znin, Wrzesnia and Witkowo.

Maria’s positive outlook and hard work has helped Marek and others to realise that although they have MS, the disease does not have them.

Maria Broeckx, Belgium 2005

Maria cared for her husband, Julien, who was diagnosed with MS in 1980 and cancer in 1997. Julien passed away in 2001.

When Julien was diagnosed with progressive MS, he and Maria started a self-help group in their region. In addition to this, Maria set up groups for partners of people with MS and children with parents who have MS. All the groups were a success from the outset and continue to provide support to those affected.

When Julien was diagnosed with cancer Maria took care of him at home, and even in this very difficult period she never stopped coordinating the meetings for the groups. Maria became an MS-counsellor in 1999.

Alan Lindsley, UK 2004

Alan is 68 years old and cares for his wife Joan who has had MS for 35 years. Joan has been a wheelchair user for the past 20 years. They have two children and four grandchildren.

Skaidrite Beitlere, Latvia 2003

Skaidrite Beitlere has provided constant care for her husband Paul over the last 20 years. Paul was diagnosed with MS in 1977, but he continued to work at home with help of Skaidrite for the next 14 years. In 1983 he became more disabled and since 1995 has used a wheelchair. Paul needs care every day. In the morning it takes 1.5 hours to give care for Paul to get him ready for the day. It takes about 1 hour to get Paul into the car if they want to go out of the home

Mr Jon Ferguson, Australia 2002

Jon has been the main carer for his wife Carolyn. He also works as a primary school teacher at Newtown School, Toowoomba. Since 1994 Jon has reduced his school hours to three days per week to enable him to care for Carolyn. Prior to going to work at school Jon puts Carolyn's splints and compression stockings on, toilets, transfers Carolyn into wheelchair and dresses Carolyn. On return from work Jon once again provides all Carolyn’s personal care, cooks meals and cleans up the dishes to then allow him time to attend to school preparation.

Ion Gîda, Romania 2001

Ion has been a carer since 1971, when his wife was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. As well as supporting and caring for his wife, Ion regularly cares for 70 people with MS in his town - this includes 40 who are completely bedridden. Ion, with his wife, did all that they could to help people with MS in his region in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1990 he helped to form the Neamt MS Foundation.

Cor De Wilde, The Netherlands 2000

Cor de Wilde's wife, Ann de Wilde-Versteeg, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1966. Cor has been nursing and supporting Ann for 33 years now, for better or worse. Besides looking after Ann over these years, Cor has also helped to run the household and take care of their two boys who were born in 1969 and 1973. Until a few years ago, Cor even had a full-time job.

Mrs Josy Baumann, Switzerland 1997

Mrs. Josy Baumann, 75 years old, started her activities of active support of persons with MS more than 25 years ago during a 4-week break organised by the Swiss MS Society for a group of people who were severely disabled and needed a change of surroundings and atmosphere and by doing so gave their carers a much-needed break from their daily routine.

Joan Dartnell, Australia 1996

Joan Dartnell's daughter Natalie was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1988 at the age of 13 years. During the next few years Natalie had frequent major exacerbations necessitating transfers by air ambulance to hospital in Sydney. Natalie"s level of disability is now severe and her care needs are high. Each year Joan organises a major fund raising function in the local area which raises thousands of dollars of the MS Society of New South Wales

Other winners

Helen Jean Mortson, Canada 1999
Bente Nielsen, Denmark 1998
Ewa Marszal, Poland 1995
Harry Bell, South Africa 1994