Bridgwater endurance rider completes Lands End bike trial
After her accident, Ms Cant was diagnosed with 'Postural orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome' (PoTS), an abnormality of the automatic nervous system which has affected the regulation of blood vessels and her heart rate. She wanted to raise money for the PoTS charity, who have helped her to live with the condition and improve her quality of life. Ms Cant has now completed her first ever 'The Lands End Trial', a 24 hour endurance event for people on motorbikes, bikes with side cars and classic cars, that starts in Bridgwater, goes along the Exmoor Coast, and finishes at St Agnes in Cornwall. She set herself an original fundraising target of just over £1,000 but said she "smashed" that and raised more than £2,800 - almost three times the original amount. She added that finishing 'The Lands End Trial' was "amazing" but that riding through the night "wears down your concentration" and she was "shovelling down nuts" after completing each section to keep her protein levels up. Ms Cant rode her 1990s Yamaha TTR 250 off-road bike during the race and said standing up and sitting down was actually better as it meant she was constantly moving around. Her husband James completed the event with her on his own bike, and she said they are both so proud that she got to the end of the course and got her certificate within the required time.
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Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Daily Record
Lanarkshire MS group's funding plea to support counselling service
The much-valued free support sessions are "at risk" amid reducing grants and donations A vital free counselling service supporting Lanarkshire residents with multiple sclerosis is 'at risk' amid declining funding for its valued work. More than 300 people have benefited from the support sessions provided by the MS Society's Lanarkshire local group over the past seven years, but the charity says its grant and fundraising income 'is running out, and there are no other major sources of income on the horizon'. Now they are asking potential funders and donors to get in touch and to give any support possible to ensure its continuation of the service; with service user Grahame Brown, a teacher from Blantyre, saying he would be 'angry and upset' if it ceased and adding: 'I don't know how I would have coped if I'd had no one to talk to.' The counselling project was set up through the MS Society's volunteer-run Lanarkshire local group, with more than 2000 individual sessions having taken place since 2018 and organisers calling the service and its two-week referral time 'a vital lifeline to many who would otherwise be on excessive waiting lists for talking therapy'. Group activities volunteer Karen Henvey, of East Kilbride, said: 'We want to continue offering this service due to the vast difference it makes, not just to the person accessing the counselling but also for their family and wider network. 'Having early and easy access to counselling has made such a difference to the MS community across Lanarkshire – the service is very popular and well utilised and we've heard from feedback and those sharing their experiences that the sessions have led to improvements in health, wellbeing and overall quality of life. 'If any individuals or businesses are in a position to make a donation, we would appreciate their support so much; or if groups of friends or co-workers would like to organise a fundraising activity, we would urge them to get in touch – any contribution, no matter how big or small, will help to ensure this critical service remains available for everyone who needs it.' NHS Lanarkshire's specialist MS nursing team also called the free service 'a true lifeline for our patients' as they face 'the emotional and psychological toll that MS can have on individuals and their families', and said: 'This service is invaluable, and we sincerely hope it continues for many years to come. 'We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of the volunteers and counsellors who make this service possible. Their unwavering commitment not only supports our patients but also reassures us, as healthcare professionals, that those in need have a safe and understanding space to turn to.' Blantyre resident Grahame, 53, was diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis last October after 'years and years [of] pain in my legs and hips' – and admits he was 'a bit sceptical' about beginning his series of sessions with counsellor Neil Irwin after being put in touch with the charity by his MS nurse as he experienced low moods. However, the dad-of-six was immediately 'pleasantly surprised' and found counselling helped lift a wieght from his shoulders, said: 'I found it really useful. I would just go in, unload my thoughts, and Neil would help me put them into order. 'I was nervous before I started; I don't offload things to people so I was a bit unsure how it was going to go. On the train to my first session I was thinking, 'what am I going to say? Am I going to say anything at all?' But as soon as I started, Neil didn't get much chance to talk because once I opened up I just kept going.' 'At first it was just conversation, then after a couple of weeks he started to point me in certain directions and give me advice about other support that was out there. We talked about other things as well as MS, like family things. 'Counselling helped me to accept the fact I've got MS, because I was a bit in denial, and it gave me strategies to work on. I was hesitant in using a walking stick, and the sessions helped me to see that if something helps you you've got to use it. I've gradually started using the stick more and more. We also talked about sharing my feelings with my wife and family.' Grahame has now created a four-episode podcast series entitled Descent into MS, made using recording equipment offered for loan through South Lanarkshire libraries' award-winning Lending Voices project, and which he has now shared with fellow members of the MS Society's Lanarkshire local group. He said: 'I wouldn't have been able to go along to the group or do the podcast if I hadn't had the counselling; because I opened up to Neil I knew I could open up to others. It's getting a little bit easier to talk about my MS. 'I can't describe how much counselling helped me. Previously I had all these thoughts bouncing about in my head and I didn't know what to do. MS is such a big thing and it's so different for everyone.' Grahame hopes sharing his story will encourage people to donate to or raise funds to help save the 'life-changing' service, and added: 'If I hadn't gone to counselling I'd still have all these thoughts in my head and be unsure which direction to take. I'd be upset if I thought there were people out there with the same thoughts but they didn't have access to a counsellor to express them.' Counsellor Neil agreed: 'It would be a huge loss to the MS community in Lanarkshire if the service had to be discontinued due to a lack of funding. 'Some clients tell me they feel abandoned after receiving their MS diagnosis – they may have to wait a number of months for their next appointment with an MS nurse or consultant and feel as if they've been left to deal with things themselves. It's not uncommon for clients to bottle up their emotions, often because they don't want to worry family or friends. 'Counselling provides an opportunity to explore the impact a diagnosis can have, such as a sense of loss, living with limitations, or even having to accept various forms of help. This can help clients view an adaptations such as starting to use a walking stick as taking control of their MS rather than 'giving in' to the condition.' More than 17,000 people in Scotland live with MS, which affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord and impacts how people move, think and feel. Anyone wishing to donate to the Lanarkshire group or to fundraise for their work is asked to email fundraising@ specifying that they wish to give direct support to the Lanarkshire local group's counselling service; and to volunteer with the Lanarkshire group, including helping members secure funding for the counselling service, email lanarkshire@ And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- BBC News
Aberdeen student creates comic to highlight hidden MS symptoms
A student has created a new comic to help highlight the "invisible symptoms" of multiple sclerosis (MS).University of Aberdeen PhD student Claire Robertson was inspired to create the comic because her father lives with the condition.A team of MS experts and comic book artists helped her create the book titled Through the MS Looking story follows an Alice in Wonderland-style narrative to help highlight the condition's symptoms. The 27-year-old student said she wanted to create something engaging and to present information about the condition in an "approachable way". She said: "MS is a topic that is quite close to my heart, because my dad has it. He was diagnosed back in 2011. "It is something I've grown up around and I'm very used to. "I feel like there is quite a lot of stigma with MS, so I wanted to visualise the symptoms through a comic using things like visual metaphors."Invisible symptoms of MS are things that people struggle with but are not immediately apparent to others. These include pain, fatigue, brain fog, bladder and bowel difficulties, dizziness and mental health challenges. The story follows two friends - one who has MS and one who does not. "The friend who doesn't have it struggles to understand it," Claire explains. "So they go on a journey to interact with different hidden symptoms along the way and gain a better understanding of what it can be like to live with these hidden symptoms."The artwork was created by Cat Laird and Ashling Larkin, while a team of experts were also involved in making the story to ensure the detail about living with MS was accurate. MS advice 'more approachable' Claire hopes presenting the information through a comic can make understanding it "less scary". She added: "It is more approachable to read health information when there is this kind of interplay between the text and the image. "With the comic it is just trying to get people thinking about health information and engaging with it when you are maybe not looking for it."The story can be found on the MS Trust is hoped a wider physical run will be produced soon. The MS Trust said the comic could help raise awareness about the "less obvious symptoms" and "improve knowledge" about MS."With invisible symptoms, there's a lot of stigma that can come with them, especially from people who don't have an understanding of MS," it said."There can be a lot of misunderstanding surrounding hidden symptoms and a lack of awareness of the difficulties that individuals with MS can face daily."
North Wales Chronicle
16-07-2025
- North Wales Chronicle
Anglesey: Gwyddfor care apprentice wins new talent award
Claire Elizabeth Hughes, a health and social care apprentice based at Gwyddfor Residential Care Home in Bodedern, Ynys Môn, was named the winner of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol New Talent Award in memory of Gareth Pierce. The award honours individuals who have demonstrated exceptional talent and made a significant impact in their workplace. (L) Claire Elizabeth Hughes, with (R) Gwyn Arfon Williams, work-based learning assessor (Image: Llandrillo Menai) Mary Williams, care home manager, said: "Claire has worked for us since 2022 and has taken to her role – from junior to senior care practitioner – like a duck to water. "Previously skilled as a beauty therapist, she is now an asset to our home and highly respected by the whole team. "She takes a special interest in the well-being of every resident, going out of her way to ensure they are well-presented and always treated with dignity. "Promoting the Welsh language and its traditions is very important to her, and this is clear in her day-to-day work. "Speaking Welsh is a part of everyday life in our home, and the ability to communicate in Welsh enhances well-being and gives residents a sense of belonging and identity. "Claire understands the responsibility of helping to preserve and promote the language – ensuring it is valued and respected in everything she does." Ms Hughes was praised for her 'person-centred' approach to dementia care, delivered in both Welsh and English. Ms Hughes' assessor, Gwyn-Arfon Williams, said: "Claire is an exceptional learner who consistently exceeds expectations. "She works tirelessly to support individuals living with dementia, and what truly sets her apart is her bilingual communication – a vital bridge for residents who feel more comfortable in Welsh. READ MORE: Charity to pause care at its four-bedded hospice on Anglesey "She's not only a hardworking and compassionate apprentice, but also a role model in the workplace – demonstrating leadership, empathy, and a constant drive to learn. "This recognition is so well deserved." The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol works to increase Welsh-medium and bilingual opportunities in post-16 education, supporting learners like Ms Hughes to use the Welsh language in their professional roles.
