I’m Vicky Edwards and MS has changed my life, oddly and yet profoundly for the better.
I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2010, I was shocked and yet relieved to understand what had been happening to me for such a long while.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system.
In MS, the coating around nerve fibres (called myelin) is damaged, causing a range of symptoms.
More than 100,000 people in the UK have MS. Symptoms usually start in your 20s and 30s and it affects almost three times as many women as men.
Once diagnosed, MS stays with you for life, but treatments and specialists can help you to manage the condition and its symptoms.
The cause is unknown and a cure is yet to be found, but research is progressing fast.
2011 saw the start of my love for fundraising. Of all the things to do, walking over fire seemed the most appealing for my first fundraiser! I told myself if I could do that then I could be stronger than my MS! That event celebrated my 1st anniversary of my MS diagnosis.
I decided from then on I would do my best to raise money for different MS charities. This then started a chain reaction. For many of the charity events a certain level of physical and mental fitness would be needed, not just for myself but for my friends as well, I would most certainly need their help. Different charity events call for different support from my friends, whether it be pushing me in my wheelchair for 5k, running the 5k, organising fun day events which would guarantee someone having to go in the stocks, or even running a marathon!
Last year myself and a friend decided it was time to attend ‘Slimming World’ the dieting group. Whilst at the same time I continued with my gym referral from the previous year and one by one the rest of my friends started to join the same gym!
Slimming World is where we first met Sharon and a friendship started to blossom. It was only a couple of months later that I realised she also went to the same gym as we all did! At this time I had started to organise another charity event and Sharon stood out to me as someone who would enjoy the challenge of the 5k Color Run. I asked and she accepted.
I managed to get a good number of people together and organised the group with the help of my friends!
I told everyone that for this event I didn’t mind how people participated as long as they had fun! We even came up with a name for us ‘bam4msuk’ (By Any Means for MS-UK as that was the charity I had chosen to fundraise for)
I was so happy with the group of friends & really pleased that Sharon had agreed to do it – bearing in mind that this was a lady that didn’t even know the rest of the group! A lady that had recently found her love for running, this is why it was such a surprise to me when she said she wanted to walk with the group that was helping with the wheelchair! She was determined to give as much support as was possible and she didn’t disappoint!
“Hi Vix, want to run an idea past you. Been really proud of all your fitness sessions against your issues. I’m running my first marathon in October in York. Would it be ok if I ran for MS on your behalf? I think you have an amazing amount of strength and willpower and love you to bits! Thought you could borrow these legs ‘virtually’ and we could try to do some good between us? What do you think?”
I felt so honoured! I totally loved the idea! How wonderful!
We arranged to meet up so we could discuss it further, we spoke about the most important thing first… which charity Sharon would be fundraising for. She left that decision for me to make as I know the charities better than she does.
I decided it would be good to raise funds for MS-UK again, I decided this as they are a charity that not only helps me the most, but I think they are the best charity at raising awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.
Here is what Sharon has to say about why she started running, and why she wants to do this Marathon for an MS charity:
“I started running after losing 3 1/2 stone hitting target with slimming world. Had money to join the gym then and my sister-in-law shared a link for a 5k mud run in Carlisle in May 2015. I asked if she was running it and she asked if I wanted to join her? That was it, gauntlet down and challenge accepted! Up to this point I had been in the gym only, using the treadmill and weight machines to improve my poor level of fitness. With this mud run I was going to actually have to get outside for a start, to run but also make sure my overall fitness level could get me through the running, mud, water, fire, heights and climbing over/ under and through things!
Anyway I totally enjoyed this and from then on I started to go out more running and switched to Gym classes (body pump, cx, combat and balance). I also included swimming once a week for a good low impact activity. The running increased gradually over time, gym classes once a week (but 3 of them), swimming once a week and still maintaining my weight with slimming world.
I have definitely caught the running bug!
2015 was my first year of running and I have gone from being unable to run further than 100 yards without being out of breath to getting round 15 miles while talking with my running buddies.
Having met Vix through Slimming World and at the gym, I have seen how much she enjoys her activities and battles through her MS barriers.
It was watching her do this while still smiling that it struck me, my already booked first marathon should be done with her in mind – everything that she battles through daily should be my inspiration to get me through my first ever 26.2 miles.
My original plan had been to attempt a marathon before my 45th birthday (2017) to prove to myself that I could do it – so I shall be completing it to prove to myself that I can and for Vix to show her how much of an inspiration she truly is”
Sharon’s journey from unfit and unhealthy to fit and healthy!
This year MS-UK have been promoting the ‘Year of the Bear’ Myles the MS-UK Mascot
I was asked at the beginning of the year if I would take part in it, of course I said yes! A few days later I received my ‘Myles’ the MS-UK mascot and it was time to start taking him with me everywhere I went to capture selfies of him with different people, in different places, doing different things!
I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to continue this campaign with Sharon and her marathon. So like the good sport she is, Sharon will be carrying ‘Myles’ around with her whilst she trains and of course on the big day.
It’s a rare thing to happen but Sharon has literally left me speechless about this!
I am still processing it all!
Overwhelmed would be the best word to use to describe how I am feeling!
So I think the best thing for me to do now is say “Sharon you are a complete star” wish her luck and to thank her from the bottom of my heart for doing this!
Next for me to do is let you all know how you can contribute and show Sharon the incredible support that is needed!
I have set up a Just Giving page where you will find it easy to sponsor Sharon & Myles as they take on this epic challenge! Just follow the link for an easy step by step walk through of how to donate!
This is an emotional, heart string pulling post but is such a good reminder for me and an excellent peace of advice for everyone!…
No matter what you are going through right now, remember, you are never alone!
Find yourself people that are in the same situation as you! This post explains how I did just that and by doing it I realised I wasn’t alone & by being with these amazing people I found that I could feel normal! I was no longer the odd one out!
I found people that spoke the same MeSsy language as me!
Find yourself a person or find your people!
I found mine!
This picture popped up on my facebook memories! Gulp! Deep breath!
Facebook is great for helping me remember past events, even when they have a massive effect on the current day! This photo was taken 4 years ago at my 2nd Ladies with Lesions meet.
How sad that a lady in this picture is no longer with us 😐
😥 Tanya (in the middle at the back) founder member of the group for women with MS ‘Ladies with Lesions’
Being a member of this group brought me my incredible friends & showed me I wasn’t the only person with MS, it’s a very lonely time when u find out you have a life long illness (disease)
I honestly believe that being a member of this group (LWL) helped to shape the person I am today!
For this I will be forever thankful to Tanya! Forever missed and never forgotten! Rest in peace lovely! 😭
I may not be the strongest
I may not be the fastest
But I’ll be damned if I’m not trying my hardest!
I may not be able to go to every exercise class I book, working hard in classes tests me the next day!
Hard choice but sometimes I just have to say to myself, I’m being kinder by letting my body rest, for now!
Some people may think it’s quitting, I know different!
Yesterday I had a very productive day! Managed to get out in the garden 1st thing and gave it a quick spruce around, on form in pilates and then shopping after!
I’m so on it today!
Time for a rest before body combat class later! I’m not saying I’ll do all of it but being there is better than not! Right!
Yes I have MS, yes I do all of these things to the best of my ability because by doing these things I am looking after myself!
Happy MS awareness week!
Picture shared via facebookPicture shared via instagram
Today marks the start of MS awareness week in the UK!
I started it at the weekend though!
What an amazing day I had on Saturday! 2 hrs Fight Klub workshop! Non stop punching, kicking, squatting, bopping & fun fun fun!
I would never have believed you if you’d have told me 2 years ago that I would be doing the things I do now!
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! YOU JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE TO ACHIEVE!
It’s hard to remember the days when I first had to take time off work because of my MS. I have come such a long way from that person that used to sit feeling sorry for herself, not doing anything to change the way she felt, just feeling more and more depressed!
Those days are real, they did exist, I was that person! So easily I could become her again! This procedure I have had done on my lower spine is to help ease my pain I feel, to gain this relief I have to endure a multitude of pains. The physical pain which comes in so many different ways, from moving incorrectly to even just standing. Then there is the emotional pain, some of this pain I feel may be hard for you to understand. Although you can’t see the physical pain itself, you can in fact see the physical effect of it in my face, in my eyes. The emotional pain will at times be so much easier to know when I feel it, you see I suffer from terrible mood swings. Almost like a teenager unable to get their own way, when I can’t do something that I have been used to doing its painful!
Yesterday
It was an easier day than I expect yesterday! The first day of recovery, unable to take part in my usual Pilates class at 11am. Even though I missed it, I was ok with it, that made me feel proud. The rest of the day I slept on and off.
The evening wasn’t too bad either. Deb came home from work, she sorted the dinner, homemade spaghetti bolognase that I had lifted out of the freezer and some pasta to go with. This made it easier for me as I wasn’t able to stand for more than a few minutes and therefore unable to cook the evening meal.
The exercise class I couldn’t attend last night was ‘Clubbercise’ I have only been to this class twice and, if I’m honest it’s a bit fast for me with a lot of side ways moving, which I have a major issue with. The class has also changed rooms, it used to be in an area that had direct access to outside, which was ideal for me to cool down quickly. The class is now in the ‘Dance studio’ the same room that I do Pilates in. Excellent because it has air-conditioning which means I keep cooler whilst exercising, the downside is that when I walk out of the room the temperature difference is too extreme for me, especially if my core temperature is high from cardio exercises.
This is a constraint of my MS, I can’t adjust to differences in temperature like my partner does. I can’t cool down quick enough when needed and vice versa, I don’t warm up quick enough! For these reasons I am apprehensive about going to Clubbercise again and didn’t mind that I couldn’t go!
Today
A harder day today, missed out on a class called ‘PiYo’ a mix of Pilates and Yoga. A class that I wanted to try from the moment I heard about it and also a class that I was very nervous about trying! When my friend told me he had been to a class a few weeks ago, I was really sad that I hadn’t gone with him. He came around to my home to tell me all about the class and how hard it was, when he told me he thought it would be to hard for me, I booked in for the next available class straight away.
I wasn’t well enough to go to the class last week because of my MS. It hadn’t occurred to me then that I wouldn’t be able to go today, but I have to be good especially after all the work I had done on Thursday.
After my first PiYo class I couldn’t stop thinking about it, I practised some of the harder moves that I could remember, until I could no longer remember the easier option that the instructor ‘Hannah Bailey’ had showed me. That’s the thing with my MS, I forget things easily and quickly!
I was so looking forward to going again! I guess I just have to wait a little bit longer. Hopefully I’ll be so much better and stronger when I go to my second class!
The evening,
Saturday evenings are my favourite! As much as I love going to all the exercise classes with Deb and our friends, I do miss the us time that we rarely get now. Saturday evening there aren’t any classes so we get to chill together snuggled on the sofa with our 2 dogs ‘our kids’
As far as pain goes and how my back is after the procedure, today I can stand for a little longer, around five minutes. Enough time to wash half of the pots in the bowl, the pain was starting to increase by then so I had to sit down and rest.
Brilliant Fight Klub last night with Hannah Bailey!
Had this T-shirt with me so whilst I finished the class early as usual to try my best to get my temperature down, I thought it most appropriate to hold this top up during the gruelling abs section!
Everyone seemed to appreciate it 😄
Btw, I wish I could take part in the abs section but I have to use that time to cool down!
My internal thermometer is fooked thanks to my MS! When I over heat it triggers all of my symptoms, meaning I can hardly walk, balance, see, hear, talk, oh the list goes on!
At least once my temperature is at a safe level my symptoms subside and I just walk and talk like I’m pissed!
I’m so pleased I’ve found something that helps to keep me cool!
*the t-shirt doesn’t keep me cool, just to clear that up! It’s a cloth that is extremely cold when wet! For those that attend fight klub or any other cardio classes I attend, it’s that pink cloth I always have either around my neck or over my head like a nun! 😂😜*
One of the t-shirts I bought today TWO sizes smaller than this time last year!
I think I could actually go another size smaller… THREE sizes smaller than this time last year! Need my personal clothes shopper ‘DebbieRahRah’ to give me here advise before I risk going down to a size 14!
*It’s been 6 years since I was that size! My pre MS diagnosis size!*
Thank you to every one that has supported me & continues to support me on this physically & mentally challenging fitness journey that I’m on!
It doesn’t feel like it or look like it after a lot of the exercise classes I do, especially cardio, that’s the hardest, but I am loving the new energy I have and mostly the new friends we have!
Living life the MegaSpecial way! 