An organisation for multiple sclerosis sufferers is on a mission to bring a specialist doctor to the Island to help people with the disease.The Bermuda MS Society is hoping to determine how many residents are affected by the potentially debilitating and incurable illness.According to John Faiella, whose daughter Allison was diagnosed with MS at age 24, once the society has a better idea of the figures it can bring in a MS specialist from the US once a month to better serve sufferers.Multiple sclerosis affects the body’s immune system and gradually eats away at the protective casing that covers the nerves. In the most severe instances people can lose the ability to walk or speak.But more often the illness is characterised by joint numbness, fatigue and blurred vision.Currently there are no hardened numbers of how many people have MS in Bermuda, said Mr Faiella.The society is also unsure how many sufferers are uninsured and have to pay out of pocket for prescription drugs and specialist visits overseas, which run between $2,300 and $5,000 a month.As a result, the MS Society has set up a website, www.mssociety.bm, and is asking sufferers or their family members to fill out a survey form.“What we are looking for is anyone who has MS to complete that survey or simply get in touch with me and I will send them something and contact them to discuss it.“We are not looking for people to join the society. What we are looking for is information. We need to have a pretty good idea that it’s 30, 50 or 70 people with the disease.”He said some sufferers were hesitant to divulge such information about themselves and as a result they can do so anonymously.“The important thing is we know this person has MS,” added Mr Faiella.With these details the society will start bringing specialists to the Island; rather than having scores of patients flying to Boston or New England regularly to seek the best medical advice.Mr Faiella said: “In order to develop these medical services we have to prove it’s worthwhile for these doctors, it’s a business decision for them.“The society is just providing the vehicle for organising the service.”The Bermuda MS Society has between 45 and 50 members, which includes some sufferers and their friends and family.The society raises money and uses 100 percent of funds to buy medications or mobility devices to make patients lives a little easier.For more information call 293-0772. Useful website: www.mssociety.bm.