Marie Collins MBE has been a sports enthusiast since her school days, despite her school having no facilities. At work, she joined the company netball team. She was keen on swimming, badminton, rowing and ice skating. Moving to Milton Keynes, she joined a rowing club, but due to Multiple Sclerosis had to give this up, instead sailing thousands of miles all over the world in the yacht she and her husband owned with the MS Society. Marie continued to support others to participate in a range of sports and became the secretary of a Milton Keynes Sailing Club at Emberton Park. She is active helping sailing training sessions for younger members. Today Marie’s main sport is swimming with her local MS Branch Swimming Club. She is committed in raising funds so that the club continues to thrive, as swimming is recognised as an excellent exercise for MS suffers. Marie has had a big impact in encouraging young people to participate in all forms of sport, and joined the Board of Sport MK in 1986. In 2011 Marie was awarded an MBE for services to voluntary work and to sport in MK.