Being patient leads to fest first

after their dream nuptials, the diagnosis hit them hard.

Ben said his employer, British Gas, had been very supportive as the disease had progressed, making small changes to his work arrangements, such as allowing him to park closer to the building and providing him with a desk that could have the height altered, but getting through each day became an increasing challenge.

But he realised that Lucy, 27, was having to deal with watching the man she loved being eaten away by the disease.

So, during Christmas 2017, Ben made a decision. Life was still going on, and he needed to plan his future. He took a raincheck on things he was not able to do, and had to just approach life and things differently.

In May 2018, Ben bought his first wheelchair. It was lightweight and he found it easy to get around in as he still had good upper body strength. However, the chair struggled with uneven surfaces.

To make things easier, Ben bought a mobility scooter and a ramp to enable him to get in and out of cars. They gave him extra freedom to get about.

But things really hit home when he went away to Hunstanton with Lucy.

He was devastated to find he could no longer walk on the sand or get down to the sea. Instead, he was confined to watching his wife walk the dog along the sea front alone.

That was followed by a trip to Majorca last year, where Ben had another potentially life-changing experience.

“Wheelchairs are not really very practical. They struggle with kerbs, cobbles, uneven ground – they’re not very well designed,” he said. ‘AMAZING WEDDING’: The couple’s big day

“So, after a chance encounter in Majorca, I discovered a different kind of wheelchair that would benefit our lives hugely and would make a massive difference.”

Normal wheelchairs have two wheels at the front and two at the back. This wheelchair has two big wheels at the front and a smaller one at the back, and is specifically designed to be used on rougher terrain. It is also able to negotiate kerbs.

The chair is designed for everyday life, and gives the user access to environments they would normally not be able to experience.

But having already purchased a wheelchair and mobility scooter, the couple realised they would need help if they were to buy one of the chairs, which cost £10,000.

They posted a Gofundme appeal for £7,000 on December 31 last year, and asked people to share and donate, if they could. Within just 15 days, thousands of pounds had been donated, and currently the total raised stands at £6,861.

Ben said: “The wheelchair itself is £10,000, but I’m going to put the rest towards it.

“I can’t believe how kind everyone has been and how generous in donating towards this fund.

“We are nearly at target, and any additional funds donated towards this will go to the MS Society, which is a charity that helps people like myself with multiple sclerosis.”

Lucy said: “The wheelchair we would love to get for Ben means he will be able to explore the beach, walk our dog in the woods and be more independent in his everyday life again.

“We want to enjoy the time Ben has together, doing what he loves.”

A CITY film and theatre production company will be opening the Leicester Comedy Festival with a premiere of their new one-act comedy play next Wednesday.

Crooked Hand Productions’

1 Man Show is far from being one man with a mic - it has a cast of 12.

When stand-up comedian Dave Meek collapses mid-set, he wakes up in the local hospital’s Emergency Assessment Unit with memory loss.

After a few days of tests it seems, God only knows what has caused his condition - but God is about to move in mysterious ways.

Writer Paul Gosling said: “It was an idea that started about 10 years ago when I was a long-term in-patient in Leicester Royal Infirmary. I made a lot of notes recording some of the amusing (and not so amusing) incidents that happened - but I know from talking to the rest of my cast, these kind of things are all too common.

“It’s about trying to get well as soon as possible to get out of hospital and some of the people you meet in there that help - or hinder - that process.”

1 Man Show runs from Wednesday, February 5 to February 7 at The Leicester International Arts Centre in Garden Street, Leicester, from 7.30pm.

We want to enjoy the

time Ben has together,

doing what he loves

Lucy Jones