15 minutes with... Friend of the MS Trust, Sam Bromfield

We caught up with friend of the MS Trust, Sam, to find out a bit more about her and why she wanted to take part in Miles for MS last summer.

When were you diagnosed with MS and how did you deal with that?

I was diagnosed with MS just after the summer in 2015. The diagnosis followed a bad relapse that left me in hospital unable to walk and very scared and confused. I had struggled on and off for a few years prior to this with my mobility and numbness so when I was given a diagnosis I felt relief more than anything that I finally had an answer and I had options to help me. 

Do you feel that being diagnosed with MS changed your outlook on life?

100%. I think it’s easy to get lost in a what if mind-set and wonder what life would be like without MS but for me it gave me that nudge to step back and really look at what I valued in life and what I wanted. 

What are the main symptoms you experience day to day?

Sensations. I know that seems very broad but for me daily I experience different sensations across my body that can really vary from numbness to tingles. I struggle with mobility issues daily too, the extent of this can also vary.

What made you decide to take part in Miles for MS?

I love taking part in fundraising events and prior to covid my favourite thing to do was cake sales, because who doesn’t love cake and I would also really enjoy hosting busy quiz nights. As both of these were taken out of the equation last year I started to look for other ways I could support the MS Trust that would be fun to get involved with. That’s when I found Miles for MS. It was perfect as there was no pressure for what had to be completed or even how it was completed. This meant that although at the time I wasn’t able to walk miles on end or run I could use my exercise bike. I made a team with some of my friends and we set ourselves a goal and all in our own ways we completed the miles.

How did you feel once you’d completed your challenge?

I felt great! For two reasons really, one being that it really helped me prioritise movement and made it fun but also because it was the first time I had taken part in a physical challenge since being diagnosed. I had always assumed these events were aimed at people that could run for hours on end so it made me so happy to learn how inclusive Miles for MS was as you can literally plan around what works for you and what you can manage.

Do you find staying active helps with your MS?

Definitely. I think it’s important to note that any movement is good movement and staying active can look so different for everyone. I try not to put pressure on myself to complete a specific thing each day and instead have adopted a more mindfulness approach to move how my body can manage. For example some days that I may feel stiff and have sat at my work computer a lot, yoga or Pilates stretches help and other days walks outside help me feel good.

What would you say to others who are thinking of taking part?

Don’t over think it and have fun with it. If you are hesitant like I was of taking part in a physical challenge I want to reassure you that there is no pressure behind this and anybody can take part no matter what your ability.

Join Sam and our other Miles for MS stars by taking on your own challenge. Register for Miles for MS today and you will receive your very own MS Trust t-shirt when you start your fundraising.