Fifer with MS completes 100km run and cycle challenge for charity

Jackie O’Neill (43) is a finance administrator at the University and was diagnosed with relapsing MS in 2012.

She took part in MS Society Scotland’s ‘100k Your Way’ challenge to raise money at a time when the MS community needs support more than ever covering 100km in just 15 days.

Jackie complete the distance by running and cycling in St Andrews and north east Fife.

She has previously raised in excess £8000 for MS Society Scotland and hopes to hit the £10,000 mark in the next year.

Jackie said: “I decided to take on ‘100k Your Way’ because I had signed up to the Edinburgh Marathon Festival relay event this year and, obviously, that couldn’t go ahead.

“We’ll be taking part next year instead, but I didn’t want to let the fundraising we’d done fall by the wayside so I’ve been running and getting on my bike to raise money when it’s needed more than ever.

“So many events have been cancelled because of the pandemic and lots of people with MS are facing additional pressures because of coronavirus and the restrictions put on what you can do.

“I was shielding for five months which definitely had an effect on my fitness and how I felt. I always feel better when I’m staying active and I lost some strength during that time.

“My MS diagnosis turned my world upside down but all I can do is stay as strong as I can through the good and bad and make the most of things.”

MS is a neurological condition which damages nerves in your body and makes it harder to do everyday things, like walk, talk, eat and think. It is different for everyone and can be relentless, painful, and disabling.

More than 15,000 people in Scotland have MS, one of the highest rates of the condition in the world.

Jackie continued: “It was difficult building strength back up again after lockdown but in the first few days of this month I’ve been out a few times either running five kilometres or cycling further than that.

“That’s one of the great things about this challenge is that you can push yourself in a way that’s flexible to you.

“Days that I’m feeling better I got out running but if I’m not feeling as well I got on the bike.

“For me that’s a big thing as my MS can cause fatigue and my right-hand side can be affected too with my leg getting heavy and pain in my arm.

“I also have a lot of pain in my leg and numbness in my foot and hand. But these are only some of the symptoms that affect me and MS is different for everyone.

“It’s a great idea to get yourself active and I’m pleased to have kept my momentum in raising money in the fight to stop MS.

“Thanks to everyone for their kind donations, I’m really grateful for all the support.”