Stewart Gould, a 78-year-old man from the Shepton Mallet area, is courageously sharing his journey of living with multiple sclerosis (MS) after years of keeping it private. Diagnosed with progressive MS at 61, Stewart admits that pride initially hindered him from discussing his condition. Now, he is actively participating in MS Conversations, a national awareness campaign launched by the UK’s leading MS charities during MS Awareness Week.
With over 150,000 MS patients in the UK, including an estimated 12,372 in the South West, the debilitating condition affects the brain and spinal cord, impacting mobility, cognition, and emotions. Often, symptoms are invisible, complicating the understanding of the disease.
Stewart revealed, “When I was first diagnosed with MS, I didn’t like to talk about it. But then one day, while on holiday in India, I had to explain my difficulty getting in and out of a jeep. That broke the ice, and I realized I had to start talking about it."
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Retired from his woodworking business, Stewart now enjoys beekeeping and stays active despite mobility and balance challenges, relying on a stick for support.
Throughout MS Awareness Week, the coalition of charities is urging MS patients to share their stories, tools, and engage in the hashtag #MSConversations on social media to promote dialogue, aiming to build awareness and understanding.
George Pepper, co-founder of Shift.ms, expressed, “Hearing the words ‘You have MS’ can be earth-shattering, but for many, it’s the start of many difficult conversations.” Amy Woolf, chief executive of MS-UK, emphasized the importance of starting conversations, highlighting the positive impact of increasing awareness within the MS community.