In 2009 I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at the age of just 31. I had been married a year and we were looking forward to starting a family. It was completely unexpected and devastating for us.

Over the last 13 years I have had a number of relapses of my MS, which means I have had periods of being very unwell, followed by periods of improvement. Unfortunately over the years, my symptoms got worse. My underlying problems with pain, eye issues and cognitive problems increased without improving, which is very common with MS.

In 2018 I made the decision to undergo significant treatment for my MS, which involved Chemotherapy and a Stem Cell transplant. I couldn’t have this treatment in the UK as I didnt fit the strict criteria. So with lots of support from my family and paying over £55k, I travelled to Mexico where I underwent HSCT (Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation) in a medical facility in Puebla, Mexico.

Over the last 4 years I have seen many symptomatic improvements in my MS and I have been incredibly lucky to improve so much and feel more well than I did in the 5 years leading up to my treatment. I am incredibly grateful for that.

AIMS is a very small charity that supports and assists in the funding of others who want to undergo this same treatment. I wanted to do something to raise the profile of AIMS and hopefully raise money to help someone else have the chance of symptomatic improvements in their MS and hopefully halt their progression too.

So in celebration of it being exactly 4 years since I was in Mexico having treatment, and being grateful for feeling so well still, I will be running The Great South Run! Please help me raise the profile of AIMS and some much needed funds to help others!

Thank you

Cat x

https://www.aimscharity.org

AIMS Charity