I was diagnosed with MS in 2015.  After coming to terms with the diagnosis I have learned to use my disability in a positive way.  Of course there have been some rough times, but I can also be grateful for my MS. It has pushed me to do things I may never have done without it.  I love setting myself challenges and I see them as a competition against my disability.  Each one I achieve is small victory and self satisfaction.  Having never climbed a mountain, in 2017 I completed the Three Peak Challenge - climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowden in less than 24 hours.  I had never ran a marathon, but in 2019 I completed the Manchester Marathon.  

After a course of treatment last summer (Lemtrada, which is basically Chemo that wipes out the immune system), right now (Jan 2020) I feel good and ready to test myself whilst at the same time raising a little money for the MS Society and awareness for the disease.  I have set myself a challenge of running 12 marathons in 2020.

Will I achieve this challenge? Honestly, I have no idea.  It's a tough challenge and a lot can happen in a year - the main concerns being injury and/or illness, but i can be very determined and I’ll give it a go!!  

So, living with disability isn't all bad.  I count myself very lucky, because my MS is enabling me to have fantastic experiences.  I've learned to channel my energy in a positive way, setting hard but realistic challenges and using MS as a motivator to achieve these.

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