MELANIE Smith felt like her life had stalled when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

While it took just a matter of seconds for the doctor to break the news, the revelation meant she finally had an explanation to the years of aching joints and severe dizziness which had left the 42-year-old from Clayton fearing something was very wrong.

The diagnosis was made in December 2003 and after years battling to come to terms with the ramifications of the illness, the mother-of-one is now gearing up to raise funds for fellow sufferers.

A big race fan, Melanie joined drag racing team Team Edge last year and will travel with the crew to Santa Pod in Northamptonshire next week for the biggest show of the year.

"I first went to a race show years ago when I took my son and I loved it," she said.

"I took my partner Martin a few years ago as he has always been into Formula 1 so I wanted to convert him."

A chance meeting with members of Team Edge last year saw Melanie sign up for their pit crew.

Out of the six crew, three suffer from MS. The team was set up in 2009 and its main aim is to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Trust.

Melanie said: "We're called Team Edge because having MS, you are living on the edge as you never know what the next day will bring. I suffer from fatigue and pain in my legs and feet."

Melanie relies on medication to keep the symptoms of MS at bay.

Now she has been nominated for a Sentinel Our Heroes award in the charity champion category.

"I remember when I was diagnosed, I was in total shock. I went to the library to read about it as I didn't understand," she said.

"I only went to the shops at night, because my balance was so bad I didn't want people to think I was drunk.

"A lot of sufferers of MS go through a stage of denial where they have problems facing up to the illness."

For the moment Melanie is putting all her efforts into Team Edge and going for the Motor Sports Association competition licence to allow her to enter races.

The dream is to get behind the wheel of the team's 5.4 litre Ford Lightning truck.

And she also admits to having an eye on the crew's Vauxhall Cavalier, complete with 9.3 litre engine.

"I think the Cavalier will be a bit quick for me at the moment, but I am really enjoying being a part of it all," she added.

At next week's FIA Main Event – considered one of Santa Pod's most prestigious meets – the team will be out fund-raising.

Melanie, who works in Morrisons in Milehouse, added: "I want to raise awareness about MS and will spend the day with collection tins along with helping out the crew."

Partner Martin Davey, aged 43, who nominated Melanie said: "She was never really able to talk about MS before, but now she is doing so much to raise awareness of the condition.

"I am very proud of her."