I, Suzanne, have Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

MS is an autoimmune neurological disease, which in simple terms means that the body’s immune system attacks the protective coating around an effected persons’ nerves. Symptoms will vary from person to person, as damage to this coating, called the myelin sheath can affect any of the 7 trillion nerves in the human body, leading to a variety of symptoms including tingling and numbness, blurred vision, problems with balance and coordination and the most common symptom, extreme fatigue.

My first symptoms, tingling and numbness from the chest down first occurred in 1994, however, I didn’t receive a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis until 2003. After my diagnosis, my initial symptoms subsided and I remained largely unaffected by my condition, working fulltime and leading an active life. A lack of access the healthcare, social isolation and two infections with COVID during the pandemic, directly affected my symptoms of MS. My balance and walking were severely affected, I suffered debilitating fatigue, as well as anxiety and depression.

Leanda and I have been friends for over 20 years and she was one of the only people I told about my diagnosis. Our friendship has always involved lots of activity, including long distance walking and running. This photograph was taken on one of our holidays together in Cambodia.

Leanda has entered the Berlin Marathon for the MS Society. Although I can no longer run, supporting Leanda with fundraising is another challenge we can do together.

Read more about our story in the MS society blog Taking on the Berlin Marathon Together

The MS Society raises much needed funds to support research into possible causes, and potential prevention of the disease, access to timely diagnosis and new treatments as well funding MS treatment centres to enable individuals to remain as independent and active as possible.

You can find out more about MS What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/what-is-ms

Watch out for our upcoming blog and more fundraising news on Instrgram https://www.instagram.com/suzannebunceglass/

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