Brave mum takes life in her stride

A mother-of-two who suffers from multiple sclerosis is taking to the stage on Monday to help launch a lifestyle event for other sufferers.

Liz Brown (47), from Waterhead, is set to give a short speech at the launch event for MS Life 2012 at The Hilton Hotel in Manchester.

Organised by the Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS Life will be held on the weekend of April 14 and 15 and is the largest event of its kind in Europe.

It will feature talks from world-class scientists on the latest in MS research, as well as those living with the condition. There will also be exhibitions, workshops and much more.

At Monday’s launch, Mrs Brown, who was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting MS seven years ago, will be sharing her experiences which started with pins and needles in her feet.

She said: “The sensation gradually moved over the space of a couple of weeks, all the way up my legs and to the base of my torso.

“It then went and at this point I was numb and could not feel anything in this part of my body.

“I ended up being admitted to hospital and had a lumbar puncture, which was extremely painful, and an MRI scan which eventually confirmed my diagnosis.”

Mrs Brown, who has two sons, was working full-time as an office manager but was forced to give up her job after 12 months.

She said: “The MS left me with fatigue, which is one of the more hidden symptoms.

“It is difficult to describe how the fatigue affects you, so it’s hard for people to understand just how tired you are.

“My youngest son, Alex, who is 19, helps me with shopping, housework and driving me around to various appointments, while my mum and dad, who are both in their late 70s, come around once a week to help me clean the house.

“My husband, Dave, has also been incredibly supportive, and has become a very good cook!

“However, I do not get very much sympathy from my family, not that I would really want any, and have been likened to Lady Penelope, not because of her good looks but because I am told I look like a Thunderbird when I’m walking!”

Mrs Brown decided to volunteer at her local MS Society branch as a committee member and started Young United by Multiple Sclerosis (YUMS) three years ago after seeing a gap in membership for young people.

When the branch’s support officer retired two years ago, Mrs Brown was asked to fill the role.

She said: “The role enables me to help people directly who either have MS or are affected by it, by talking to them via the phone or visiting them at home and pointing them in the right direction of local services.

“I can also explain about grants that are available both nationally and through the local branch and it gives people a chance to speak to someone affected by MS, and for me to explain more about our varied branch activities.

“With the symptoms of my MS, I try and find a positive out of every negative that gets thrown at me.”

For more details about MS Life, visit www.mssociety.org.uk/mslife.