A MOTHER suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) flew in the face of her condition by piloting a plane over the Houses of Parliament.

Karen Davies, from Horley, was offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity when she went along to support a MS awareness event.

She grabbed the chance to fly the six-seater Cessna aircraft from Biggin Hill Airport, on Sunday, even appearing on ITV's London Tonight programme.

Mrs Davies said: "I wasn't expecting to be allowed on the plane, and I certainly wasn't expecting to get the chance to fly it, and be covered by the media.

"They rang me and said 'we'd love you to come down, we've got some supporters and the press coming.' It was very exciting."

The opportunity came out of the Fly for MS scheme, a team of 11 people flying round the world in 60 days to raise awareness of the condition.

Group members accompanied Mrs Davies on her flight.

Mrs Davies, 38, who was diagnosed with the debilitating disease 15 years ago, is a keen supporter of MS charities.

She told the Mirror: "I think people don't know enough about MS, because you look fine people think you're well, but for example, you maybe can't feel your right leg.

"I thought this was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I went for it, and I wanted to help them promote the cause."

The mother-of-one, whose 12-year-old son Alex suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, had to give up the long round trip to work, as a computer software tester, when it became too much for her body to handle.

She had to go through a course of chemotherapy after suffering two MS relapses two years ago, one of which left her temporarily blind.

But her experiences have left her with a drive to seize chances which present themselves.

She said: "Life is for living. I've come to terms with the fact I have to use a stick, so now I have different ones to match my outfits and hairstyles."

For more information visit www.flyms.org