![mspicnic](https://theisleofthanetnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/mspicnic.jpg)
Some 35 members of the East Kent Group of the Multiple Sclerosis Society held their annual picnic at a chilly Pegwell Bay Country Park on Friday (June 2). Even though the promised sun never tried to break through the clouds, and the cold wind was less than kind, a good time was had by all.
A special guest at the picnic was marathon runner Claire Barthram and her family. Claire’s mum Christine is a member of the group and in 2018 Claire ran the London Marathon to raise funds for the work the group does to help sufferers of MS in East Kent.
![](https://theisleofthanetnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Claire-and-family.jpg)
Since successfully completing that first marathon Claire has done a sponsored ‘Half Iron Man Challenge’, and in April this year she undertook another London Marathon, which she completed in 3 hours 57 minutes, beating her earlier marathon time by nearly 15 minutes.
Altogether Claire has raised over £4,000 in sponsorship to help the group, which is funded purely by donations and grants. To celebrate Claire’s achievements the East Kent Group administrator, Dot Fisk, presented Claire with a glass trophy, and Claire then answered questions from the group members – the favourite of which was ‘how long did it take you to recover after the marathon’.
![](https://theisleofthanetnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Dot-and-Claire.jpg)
If you have MS, live in the Thanet or Canterbury areas, and would like to know more about joining the group then please email the administrator on [email protected], or check out the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/EKMSG