Putting our oars in for Krystyna
I have always loved exercise, and although I have never been high up on any leader board I do love pushing myself to my own personal limits.
And hand in hand with my efforts has been fundraising and awareness of good causes.
Over the last two years I have rowed in a Cornish pilot gig called One in Eight, and my mates have supported Prostate Cancer UK too.
Recently though, Pete, a mainstay in the crew, asked if we could change charities because his daughter Krystyna had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a while back and it felt right that the crew support that cause too.
I am ashamed to say that I knew very little about this disease, but Pete told us how it started with optic neuritis - inflammation of an optic nerve, causing blurred vision - followed by loss of balance and vomiting.
This has moved onto a lack of understanding at times, numbness in one leg, feeling hot or cold and extreme tiredness. Despite these challenges Krystyna played rugby, went to university and has undertaken charity challenges such as climbing Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and meets the difficulties presented by her disease head on.
I know I have a few challenges, but compared to what Krystyna lives with on a daily basis they pale into insignificance.
As well as fundraising for the MS Society UK, we all want to do our bit to help others understand what MS is all about.
So whilst we refurbish the boat over the winter we’ll be repainting it in the charity’s colours.
That means in 2024 we’ll be standing out as we row down the Thames in orange with blue trim.
We know that will grab attention and hopefully lead to some meaningful conversations.
Just like prostate cancer, the earlier MS can be diagnosed the more chance you have of slowing its progression.
I hope that you too share anything you think others need to know about, because the better informed we all are, the bigger the difference we can all make.
Until next week, Kev
‘‘ We want to do our bit to help others understand what MS is all about