MS patient runs and bikes 100km

A woman from St Andrews living with multiple sclerosis (MS) has raised cash to fight the condition by running and biking 100km.

Jackie O’Neill, 43, is a finance administrator at St Andrews University and was diagnosed with relapsing MS in 2012.

She took part in MS Society Scotland’s 100k Your Way challenge to raise money by covering 100km – just over 62 miles – in just 15 days.

Jackie, who completed the distance by running and cycling in St Andrews and north east Fife, has previously raised in excess £8,000 for MS Society Scotland and hopes to hit the £10,000 mark in the next year after collecting more than £750 this time around.

She said: “I was shielding for five months which had an effect on my fitness and how I felt. I always feel better when I’m staying active and I lost some strength during that time.

“My MS diagnosis turned my world upside down but all I can do is stay as strong as I can through the good and bad and make the most of things.”

MS is a neurological condition which damages nerves in your body and makes it harder to do everyday things.

Jackie said: “It was difficult building strength back up again after lockdown but in the first few days of this month I’ve been out a few times either running five kilometres or cycling further than that.”

Her fundraising page is justgiving.com/fundraising/ jackie-o-neill1