You only get one shot – the words to the hit song by JLS rang true for Nina Hathaway when she got a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet members of the boy band.

Nina received an invitation to an intimate reception held at a London hotel for her pioneering work in setting up Young United by MS (YUMS).

Mum, Jean, chairman of the MS Society in Sheppey, accompanied Nina and they were in a group of just 20 from the society to meet the lads in person at the Millennium Hotel, Grosvenor Square, last Thursday.

The event was for the charitable JLS Foundation set up by the band, and singer Oritse Williams is a supporter of the MS Society, to which £25k was donated at the event.

He became a carer for his mum, Sonia, at the age of 12 after she was diagnosed with MS.

Jean said: “We were in a small reception room at the hotel with the boys and they were absolutely lovely.

"They seemed very grounded young lads, who worked hard, got lucky and hadn’t forgotten where they come from.”

Nina, who was diagnosed with MS at the age of 24, set up YUMS because she felt isolated as a young person with the illness.

The 31-year-old prison worker said: “I talked to Marvin from the band and told him how I felt that there weren’t any groups to help people in my situation and that’s why I set up YUMS.

"He really listened and was interested in what I was saying.”

She added: “It was a really good experience and mum and I were so lucky to meet the band as there were only four MS Society volunteers who received an invitation.”

• The Sheppey MS Society held a quiz night at the Queenborough Club on Friday and raised £430. The money will be used to pay for social events, transport and individual grants.