2 years ago whilst on holiday with my wife Anna, I noticed a loss of sensation on the left side of my body and when walking around I felt as if my legs were not doing what my brain was telling them to do. I figured that a visit to a doctor would tell me there was nothing wrong with me and get on with my life. By the time I went to the doctor, though, I was noticing other symptoms including waking up in the morning always feeling exhausted even after a good night's sleep. The doctor told me I should see a neurologist and after a number of appointments and MRI scans at the end of July 2023 I was finally diagnosed with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS). MS is a disease that develops when the immune system attacks the central nervous system and causes nerve damage in the brain and through the spine.

Getting the diagnosis was one of the hardest things in my life but at least I then knew the reason why I was experiencing numbness and fatigue and other symptoms. Of course, I was really scared, scared and worried for what that meant for me and for my family, but I was referred to an NHS MS clinic and I am very glad that I ended up under the care of the expert team at UCLH's National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN) in London. I trusted that the doctors and nurses there would help me, which they did and still do and I am forever grateful for this. I also found tremendous help and support through a number of initiatives and events that the MS Society has been running with staff at the NHNN and also socialising on those occasions with other MS patients like myself.

I consider myself really lucky, I have MS but my symptoms are minor compared to those of many others. The therapy i am following is working and I have had no relapses (that is when the immune system decides to attack the nervous system again and do more damage) since having started the treatment just over a year ago.

More importantly I have learnt to live with the condition with the help of the MS Society - my really bad days are rare and I can manage them. I have a super supportive family and now work with a great bunch of people (and I am sorry many of you have only just find out about it as you read this but, as I said, I have MS but I am ok!!!) and for a company that has a very positive ethos which supports well being - this truly helps me and I value it.

Although there’s currently no cure for MS, I am and remain a positive person at heart and I know one will soon come but help to support the research to find a cure is needed. And so this Autumn, I will be taking on the Royal Parks Half Marathon together with my daughter Elisa (thank you Ellie!) and we will be raising funds for this vital cause for the many of us who now share life with MS. I have never run a half marathon and so I don't really know what to expect but I am already training for it and YES it is hard BUT I will do my best! And I really hope my little bit to help may help other MS patients, especially those whose MS journey has been and is much harder than mine.

Thank you in advance from the depth of my heart for supporting my huge challenge and donating whatever you can, it will make a massive difference. And yes I will keep you all updated on the progress of my training!

love,

Emanuele