Meet a brilliant fundraiser, Ellen.
This is her 4th year taking on The May 50K raising money for MS research.
In her lifetime, Ellen has raised $4,971.71 (and counting).
Ellen says, “I started doing The May 50K in 2020 after I had an episode of demyelination in the brain in 2019 and I was told when I first had my episode that MS was a possible eventuality.”
“When I found out about The May 50K my sister sent it through to me and I was like, ‘Yes! Absolutely!’ because I knew that while I didn’t have MS at the time I knew there was a possibility I might have it one day.”
“Any money I can raise or awareness we can get out there about the disease is going to help not just me in the future but all of the people that are struggling with MS around Australia.”
“It was really important to me to feel like I was doing my part. It can feel pretty helpless when you’re diagnosed with something that doesn’t have a cure. To be able to feel like you’re doing something it can give you the motivation to keep moving and cracking on life “
After her first episode of demyelination, Ellen was having regular MRIs to monitor her health.
She still had weakness in her left side from her first episode, but didn’t have any new symptoms.
Her MRI last year discovered a second leison.
She was then diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“My neurologist decided that he wanted to diagnose me with MS and we decided together that medication was the best route. I’m a pretty proactive person.”
“It was a big shock because I hadn’t had any new symptoms. To have this second lesion appear was I guess scary because now I feel like I can’t trust my body because I can’t trust it to tell me when something is wrong.”
“Sometimes the uncertainty can be feeling like your drowning but trusting your doctors and if that means getting multiple opinions to make you feel comfortable then do that.”
To her fellow fundraisers, Ellen encourages you to make an effort no matter how small as it will make a difference to funding vital MS research, securing a brighter future for those living with MS.
“I think that every bit counts and even if it's not dollars, its awareness. It can trigger people’s understanding and it can trigger them to put the word out more and it might eventually reach out to someone who does have the dollars.”
Ellen says she maintains a positive and proactive mindset and doesn’t let MS define her.
“The other thing that has made a big difference for me this year since getting the diagnosis it doesn’t have to become my identity. I can still be Ellen.”
