As some of you may know I am running the Ultra X Wales race in August this year (2022).  This is a 5 day event with a total distance of 250km being covered and over 9000m climbed.

This unique and challenging course takes participants from the northern Cambrian mountains to southern Snowdonia, following a number of famous trails – including the Glyndwr’s Way National Trail, the Wales Coastal Path, the Minffordd Path and the Cross Britain Path – as it weaves its way over the stunning lakes and mountains for which southern Snowdonia is famous, including the Cadair Idris, Rhinogydd and Aran Fawddwy ranges.

Each day from Monday to Friday involves one stage, which will commence between 04:00 and 08:00 and range between 40km and 65km. There are checkpoints stationed approximately 10km apart where competitors can access water, shelter, and, if necessary, medical support.  Each night, competitors will camp in locations chosen to showcase the very best of the local area.

I have chosen to use this opportunity to fundraise for the Multiple Sclerosis Society UK to help with research and to raise awareness of this debilitating degenerative disease.  More than 130,000 people in the UK have Multiple Sclerosis (MS).  MS is a condition that affects your brain and spinal cord (the central nervous system).  The coating that protects your nerves (myelin) is damaged.  This causes a range of symptoms such as the following visible ones: loss of balance and dizziness, muscle stiffness and spasms, tremors, speech problems, difficulty walking and even paralysis.  Invisible symptoms include: fatigue, pain, bladder/bowel problems, vision problems, issues with memory and thinking, low mood and depression.

My wife Donna has lived with MS for 19 years.  She has experienced all of the above symptoms at some point over the years and lives with many of them on a daily basis.  Like many people living with MS, despite her illness Donna still has to get on with daily life, like looking after our two young children, our home and me!

Despite it being difficult, Donna does try to remain positive and likes to offer help to newly diagnosed people by sharing her experiences with them.  We are both extremely grateful for the care she receives from her medical team and for the disease modifying drugs which are available to her to help keep her disease as stable as possible.

By raising money for the MS Society UK we hope further research can take place to hopefully eventually find a cure for this terrible disease and to continue to develop medications to help ease the symptoms as they occur.

Thanks for reading and any donations will be greatly appreciated.  All donations go directly the the MS Society UK.  I am paying for the race and all other costs myself.