FIVE years ago Ian Williams was in what he calls "a very dark place" fighting debilitating relapses in his multiple sclerosis, and an NHS bureaucracy denying him the drug that might help him.

The latter battle, against a postcode lottery depriving him of a chemotherapy treatment he wanted to try, was won.

Since then, the 37-year-old, from Sebastopol, Pontypool, has gradually regained control of his life, the chemotherapy drug, Mitoxantrone, having stopped progression of the disease.

He has used the four years since treatment began, to attend college, perform a fundraising sky dive, and also a fundraising zip slide and abseil from Newport's Transporter Bridge, organising a team of other MS fundraisers.

The latter effort helped raise cash to part-fund a dedicated MS occupational therapist in Gwent, and earned him a UK-wide Multiple Sclerosis Society fundraiser of the year award.

He has recently presented an award at this year's ceremony in London.

Having qualified from Coleg Gwent with a diploma in holistic therapies, he is on courses preparing him to go into business offering reflexology.

He is also a regular volunteer presenter with Pontypool-based Able Radio, the UK's only live broadcasting station for people with disabilities.

"Everything I'm doing, I couldn't have imagined five years ago," said Mr Williams.

Though he remains wheelchair-bound, the father-of-two looks at life a lot differently than in 2005.

"Fighting that battle changed me, I've had tremendous help from family (wife Sharon, and teenage sons Martin and Adam) and from the MS Society and it opened up a whole new life," he said.

"I worked in a factory up to 2004 when my MS got too much, and I'd probably still be there now. No-one wants MS, but it's the hand I've been dealt. I've had to rise to the challenge, and overall I'm pretty pleased with life.

Mr Williams is "still on a mission" and wants to do more fundraising and awareness-raising, but is loving his time with Able Radio and looking forward to going into business.

"The treatment has so far given me four years of stability I wouldn't have had," he said.

"It wasn't pleasant and took six months to feel any benefit, but afterwards I felt I needed to do something with my life."

"My attitude was, make hay while the sun shines. The sun's still shining."

Positive message to promote

THIS week is MS Awareness Week, and for the past two years Mr Williams has been on posters, leaflets and other promotional material as an example of someone living with the disease.

"It's strange seeing yourself like that, but I feel I've got a positive message about living with MS," he said.

"At the moment you can't go far in Cardiff without seeing me on the side of a bus (part of an MS Society Cymru campaign). But I've been in worse places, to be honest.

"And at the MS Society Awards ceremony Moira Stuart (former BBC news presenter) called me gorgeous - I'll take that!"

* For more information: www.mssociety.org.uk