I will be running 26.2 miles in the 2020 London Marathon for the MS Society. I know, I thought they said RUM too!
In 2012 my husband’s father was diagnosed with primary progressive MS. The struggle to even get to this diagnosis was an uphill battle as MS doesn’t follow a fixed path or have easy to read signs. In fact, everyone I have spoken to has a completely different story to tell about their diagnoses. With countless appointments, various doctors' viewpoints, invasive spinal injections and trips up and down the country, the diagnoses of MS was met with two emotions, relief, and anguish.
Over the last months and years, Dale has described his MS as slowly parachuting into disability. From not being able to keep up with his running club, then cycling club, focusing on his upper body strength with open water kayaking, rock climbing, and gym work, his MS is constantly trying to reminding him he physically is not what he once was. But I stress this is just physically, the man Dale is still very present. As a Royal Marine, Dale has served in minus conditions in the Arctic and in the boiling deserts of Iraq, he is no stranger to his body feeling tired, or how hard his body can work for him. MS has given his body and brain new tiredness, an enemy from within. Tiredness that surpasses even a Royal Marines version of this and yet you can still find Dale in the gym on a Wednesday morning, out with his wife, Fiona and their dog, Merlin on the beaches of Lyme Regis and up the pub to celebrate a special occasion! Dale has taught our daughter that you are not defined by your disability, that disability is not a reason to feel sorry for people, but actually it is a reminder to be thankful and accepting, to help and to guide, to think and to be self-aware. I am very proud to have Dale in my family and I want to show him that I think he is the strongest person I know, so much so I will run 26.2 blinking miles to support the MS charity as a salute to him!
The MS Society provides information, support, and services to people living with MS, and fund millions in research each year. If I can push myself to run 26.2 miles (that is further than my house to Lyme Regis - sweet bejesus!) could I please ask you to just dig deep and pop some pennies on this page, to help people suffering from MS, and bring hope, education and finally a cure.
