Meet Maddie
My name is Maddie, and I'm thrilled to share my journey with you as we embark on this incredible journey together, in the Ride to Fight MS!
To tell you a bit about myself, I'm a 33 year old Gold Coaster with 2 beautiful children and a very playfull Frug, Dotti (our French Bulldog/Pug). I have an amazing and supportive family who is my rock! Between working full time and keeping up with the kid's social lives, I don't have a lot of time for looking after myself, which is why I was so overwhelmed when I received my diagnosis.
At 29 years old, I dismissed a strange pain in my right eye, however when my vision deteriorated and the pain rapidly increased, I decided to seek further investigation.
After multiple appointments and referrals to different doctors, an eye specialist concluded they believed it to be a common initial indication of MS - Optic Neuritis- and immediate action was needed. The following weeks and months were a whirlwind of steroid treatments, examinations and appointments.
It took four months to receive confirmation of what I deep down already knew - I had MS. While those months were scary and overwhelming, they allowed me to come to terms with what was in store for me and empowered me to take action. The night of receiving my diagnosis, I signed up for my first MS fundraiser and connected with MS Queensland.
By getting in touch with MS Queensland, I was able to access services like being provided with workplace support through the Employment Support Team and connecting with the NDIS.
“From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank MS Queensland and the MS Queensland community for being such an amazing support for us through my MS journey. I have truly never felt alone.”
Me (far right), with my incredible team
“For anyone thinking about taking part, don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do it ... I gave it a go and at the end of the day if I wasn’t able to fully complete the course, I would have been satisfied knowing that I at least tried.”
Given that MS Queensland have been such an important asset to me, I decided to up my involvement, and in 2022 I volunteered for the MS Brissie to the Bay. It was an amazing experience, and by the time the 2023 ride had rolled around, I had signed up to ride 25km!
Besides some nerves, the ride was a great success as I was supported by my amazing friends and family.
Reflecting on how I felt as I crossed the finish line, hearing my daughter screaming and clapping “Go, Mummy, go” made me incredibly emotional. I had never done anything like this before in my life, so it was a great feeling of accomplishment. My children are absolutely my greatest pride and joy, their resilience and kindness inspire me every day.
As we gear up for the 2024 MS Brissie to the Bay, I'm filled with gratitude for this community and am thankful for the opportunity to give back. Whether joining me as a fellow rider, volunteering for the great event, or cheering from the sidelines, let's come together to make a difference. It means the absolute world for people like me living with MS
See you at the finish line!
Maddie
Will you support people living with MS like Maddie?
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