MEET
STEPHEN

My name is Stephen "Papo" Papadopoulos, and I've been fighting MS for 26 years. I've been involved in the MS Gong Ride for 16 years now, and it really helps me cope with my MS, knowing that this huge cycling community is riding to support people like me.

I first experienced symptoms of MS when I was only 16 years old, with blurred vision, shortly followed by the feeling of pins and needles over my entire body, right before my HSC. I was finally diagnosed with MS in August 2001 at 22 years of age when all my symptoms struck at once.

At that time, I was an apprenticeship as a chef. I was experiencing loss of balance and slurred speech. I kept falling and knocking things over in the kitchen, and so I had to keep proving to my manager that I wasn't coming into work drunk.

I also lost 97% of my vision, lost the feeling to most parts of my body, and it was extremely painful to be touched by another person. My GP referred me to a Neurologist and I had an MRI. I was officially diagnosed with MS.

After years of confusion, it was a HUGE relief to have a diagnosis, because it explained all those invisible symptoms, and it meant I was not making things up or going crazy (which is very comforting).

Fast forward to today, and I'm still living every day with symptoms. I have pins and needles in my hands and feet, combined with a never-ending burning sensation and sharp stabbing pains over 90% of my body. This constant pain means, anything touching my skin hurts –the clothes I am wearing, having a shower, hugs. Even the bed sheets hurt, so I wake from pain each night. On average, I can only sleep about four hours per day.

The last year has been pretty challenging... multiple sclerosis is a very lonely disease, but throw in a pandemic with social distancing…

So, why am I sharing my story with you?

I want YOU to know that you are doing something really awesome and how much your support means to me. I appreciate you taking on your challenge. It’s incredible knowing that this huge community of people are riding to support people living with MS, just like me. All Your fundraising efforts through in the MS Gong Ride means that people living with multiple sclerosis can continue to receive vital support and personalised services.

Together we can ensure NO ONE has to fight MS alone.

It's stories like these that inspire us to continue the work we do

 

MEET THE MS COMMUNITY

YOUR RIDE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

27,640

times last year, people reached out to our helpline MS Connect and were met with a caring person to listen and help them

1,610

people received specialised advice from the MS Nurse Advisor and Social Work Advisor Service last year

4,567

people registered for an MS Education and Wellbeing webinar in the past year to better understand multiple sclerosis

604

people joined the MS Peer Support Program throughout the last year to connect with others living with multiple sclerosis

Fleur Huston

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