“I can’t control everything about MS, but I can control how I respond”

I was 40 years old when my life took an unexpected turn. Until then I had been healthy, active and always on the go. My days were filled with purpose. 

Then I started having problems with my vision. 

It started with floaters in my vision, and I assumed it was something simple that would pass. But after a routine eye test I was sent straight to A&E and referred to neurology.  Suddenly I was having MRIs, blood tests and a lumbar puncture.  The initial diagnosis was clinically isolated syndrome, manifesting as optic neuritis.  

At the time, it was a lot to process. MS was mentioned in passing. The message from the neurologist was that this could be an isolated event and that if another symptom appeared then further investigations would be required. 

The fear of the unknown was overwhelming. But that point, I had no idea how much my life – and the way I approached my health – was about to change. 

Living with uncertainty

Over the following months more symptoms appeared – muscle weakness, tremors in my legs and other strange things happening in my body. Eventually the diagnosis became clear: multiple sclerosis. 

The news hit me hard, I was in shock. I turned to Dr Google – and my world quickly collapsed around me. My first thought was that I would end up in a wheelchair. That was the picture I had formed from what I had read online. In hindsight, relying on a single source of information was not a good move. 

My next thought was how I would tell my family – especially my two children, who were around 12 and 16 at the time. 

Fighting back on two wheels

Despite the uncertainty, I decided I wasn’t going to let MS define what I could do. Cycling became my solace and my passion. What started with a mini triathlon soon turned into an obsession. I began competing in local club races and eventually riding in major events across Europe.  

Some of my proudest moments came in the mountains. I travelled to Spain and France just to ride in the mountains, feeling more alive than ever. Events like the UCI World Gran Fondo finals and the Haute Route Alps pushed me to my limits. Crossing those finish lines felt like victories not just in cycling, but over MS itself. 

For around fifteen years, MS had what felt like a light touch on my life. It was as if the disease was dormant. Cycling became my way of proving – to myself more than anyone – that I could still push my body and live fully. 

The accident that changed everything

Then, in April 2021, everything changed. I was involved in a serious and violent cycling accident – a collision with a car at speed. I was unconscious for 14 hours and suffered broken bones and a brain injury. Three weeks in hospital followed, and months of recovery. 

Even then, I was determined to get back on the bike, and I succeeded just three months after the accident. 

When things got dark

Less than a year after the accident, while riding in Tenerife with a friend, I noticed issues with my right eye. I immediately recognised the symptoms as optic neuritis. More tests confirmed new brain activity and another attack of optic neuritis, this time in the other eye. 

It seemed my MS was progressing and potentially transitioning to secondary progressive MS. I began self-injecting disease-modifying therapy every two weeks; eventually, this treatment stopped, and I transitioned to Cladribine, a treatment aimed at resetting my immune system.  

For the first time, MS was significantly impacting my daily life and exercise routine. 

That was a difficult adjustment. For a long time I had been able to push back against MS through cycling and staying active. Suddenly I was facing the reality that my body had limits I couldn’t ignore.  

Around two years ago, in 2024, I found myself in one of the darkest periods of my life. I wasn’t suicidal, but I realised I had started forming a plan in my head that while I could still walk, I might walk into the sea and not come back. 

That was the moment I realised I needed help. 

I reached out and received counselling through the NHS. The support I got around acceptance was incredible. It helped me see things differently. And today, I’m in a completely different place. 

One of the most powerful lessons I learned through that process was acceptance. You accept what’s happening and then you shine a torch and see what you can do. That shift in mindset changed everything for me. 

Focusing on what I can do

I discovered Overcoming MS when I began to let in the light of acceptance. I wanted to understand what I could do to stay as strong as possible, live a fulfilling life and improve my mental health. 

My diet had already been largely plant- and fish-based for nearly 30 years – long before my diagnosis. Since learning more through Overcoming MS, I’ve made further adjustments, particularly around the types of plant-based foods and oils I use. Dairy still features occasionally, mainly cheese, although I stopped drinking cow’s milk many years ago. 

Exercise has always been important to me, and the Overcoming MS approach reinforced just how valuable it can be. I’ve also become better at self-management. I no longer compare the person I am today with the person I was years ago. The same applies to stress management – I’ve developed better skills to recognise and manage it. 

MS has changed what my body can do. Some days I can barely walk 500 metres. But I can still swim 500 metres – so that’s what I focus on. If I can’t walk to the pool, I’ll drive there and hobble in.  

I cycle too – sometimes on a turbo trainer in my garden room, and sometimes outside with friends. I’ve even bought an electric bike so I can still tackle more challenging rides. 

Looking after my mind and my body

Mental health has become a huge priority for me. 

I have a simple rule. If my mental health is equal to or better than my physical health, that’s a good day. 

Exercise helps with that, but so do small daily habits. I’ve worked hard on my routines, including yoga every evening and improving my sleep hygiene. These small things add up over time. 

I’m also part of the Hampshire Overcoming MS Circle and connect online with others with MS through the Live Well Hub. The sense of community has been incredibly valuable. 

We share stories about our lives, tips for managing symptoms and ideas for living well with MS. Our Circle often meets for lunch, where everyone brings a dish that fits with the Overcoming MS approach. It creates a real sense of community – and can be a challenge for those of us who aren’t natural cooks! The meetings are always positive and uplifting. 

Looking ahead

These days I’m still cycling, still exercising and still pushing myself – just in different ways.  

MS has changed parts of my life, but it hasn’t taken away my ability to move forward. 

And as Carl Jung once said: “We are not what happened to us, we choose what we become.” 

That idea has become my mantra. 

I can’t control everything that MS brings. But I can choose how I respond. 

For me that means staying active, making conscious choices about my health, and looking after my mind as much as my body. 

MS: A diagnosis, not a destiny

Lee shared his story to raise awareness of the role of lifestyle choices in managing MS.

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