A MALMESBURY mum who has secondary multiple sclerosis is trying to raise £50,000 to get life changing stem cell treatment in Mexico.

Kathryn Hughes is paralysed from the waist down and has been using a wheelchair since 2015.

The mum of two was forced to give up work, horse riding and her hobbies due to the illness, which made her feel low.

But Kathryn's spirits were lifted this year, when she was awarded a three week flying scholarship for disabled people at the Royal International Air Tattoo in July.

Now Kathryn wants to raise £50,000 so she can get life changing treatment.

She hopes to undergo a 28-day treatment called HSCT (Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation).

The treatment works by ‘resetting’ the immune system to stop it attacking the central nervous system.

It uses chemotherapy to remove the harmful immune cells and then rebuilds the immune system using a type of stem cell found in the bone marrow.

The treatment will take place at Clinica Ruiz, the largest HSCT private treatment centre in the world.

Clinica Ruiz say they have performed more than 2500 of the procedures across the last 20 years, of which more than 600 have been for MS.

They give a mortality rate of less than 0.2 per cent and claim positive results have been achieved in over 78 per cent of patients.

Kathryn would have to stay in Mexico for a month if she has the treatment done and would be joined by her partner.

"I'm not sure yet when I could have the treatment once I have hit the target," Kathryn explained.

"The recovery times varies, but the average is around 18 months for a big difference to show."

Kathryn hopes that the treatment will give her a better quality of life

The treatment isn't just available in Mexico, it is also available in the UK and Russia, but neither can help Kathryn.

Russia and UK can only help people who are lower than 6.5 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale, of which Kathryn is an 8.

Kathryn continued: "Malmesbury Primary Care have been very helpful, the doctor I have there is very supportive.

"It's not his fault I can't get treatment in the UK, but it is definitely something we should be looking into.

"I have spoken to a couple of local people who have done the same treatment in Mexico, and he helped me get in contact with one of them.

Tessa Thorn, a former international dressage competitor from Kingscote, near Tetbury has Multiple Sclerosis.

She was diagnosed with the progressive condition nine years ago and has had to stop riding several years afterwards.

Tessa launched a justgiving page last October hoping to raise £50,000 for the same treatment, and thankfully achieved her target.

Kathryn said: "We spoke on Monday (September 10), and she did the treatment earlier this year and has already seen improvements.

"I spoke to someone else who also had the treatment done, and she has had great results too.

"She has actually regained her writing ability and she has stopped fatiguing."

"I don’t expect to walk again, but if this illness stops and I don’t get any more fatigue, I will be eternally grateful.

"I’m going down hill so quickly it’s my only chance of getting my life back.

"The results are absolutely incredible."

A crowdfunding page has been set up to help Kathryn reach her £50,000 target.

for a big difference to show.”

The treatment isn’t just available in Mexico, it is also available in the UK and Russia, but neither can help Kathryn.

Russia and UK can only help people who are lower than 6.5 on the Expanded Disability Status Scale, of which Kathryn is an 8.

Kathryn continued: “Malmesbury Primary Care have been very helpful, the doctor I have there is very supportive.

“It’s not his fault I can’t get treatment in the UK, but it is definitely something we should be looking into.

“I have spoken to a couple of local people who have done the same treatment in Mexico, and he helped me get in contact with one of them.”

Tessa Thorn, a former international dressage competitor from Kingscote, near Tetbury, also has multiple sclerosis.

She was diagnosed with the progressive condition nine years ago and had to stop riding several years afterwards.

Tessa launched a justgiving page last October hoping to raise £50,000 for the same treatment, and thankfully achieved her target.

Kathryn said: “We spoke on Monday (September 10), and she did the treatment earlier this year and has already seen improvements.

“I spoke to someone else who also had the treatment done, and she has had great results too.

“She has actually regained her writing ability and she has stopped fatiguing.”

“I don’t expect to walk again, but if this illness stops and I don’t get any more fatigue, I will be eternally grateful.

“I’m going downhill so quickly it’s my only chance of getting my life back.

“The results are absolutely incredible.”

Kathryn hopes to raise £50,000 to cover the cost of the treatment, accommodation, and her flights to and from Mexico with her partner.

Kathryn’s son Joseph, launched a crowdfunding page on Tuesday, September 11, to help his mum reach her target.

If you would like to donate and help Kathryn pay for her treatment, go to bit.ly/2O7NTPf