Rowena Ruden: My Kiltwalk Journey

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the age of just 24 and it has been quite a rollercoaster of a ride since. The lowest point was probably shortly after diagnosis, when a lady at the Job Centre helpfully said, "You don't look ill to me!" I'm still wondering exactly how I should look.

My real "Achilles heel" with Multiple Sclerosis has been visual problems such as blurred, double and jerky vision — but that's not to say other symptoms such as problems with sensation, gait and balance don't come and go. I was officially registered as blind as a result of scarring on both optic nerves in 2013, shortly after the birth of my first child. I have learnt to take every day as it comes and make the most of the good ones, as ultimately I don't know when other symptoms might return.

I tend to think of Multiple Sclerosis as having an ‘energy bank’. I get a certain amount each day and have to plan carefully how I use this. If I’m careful, I can ‘save’ some of this energy for another day, but If I go ‘overdrawn’, I have to pay it back on the days afterwards which is always a challenge. If I work hard at looking after myself, I might get an energy ‘bonus’, but I can’t rely too heavily on this unfortunately.

Yesterday, I completed my third 18-mile Mighty Stride at the Aberdeen Kiltwalk, all of which I have completed after my diagnosis. This at least I hope will give other people diagnosed with the condition some hope.

My times will not have been record breakers, but that doesn’t matter. It’s the taking part that counts, and the morale boost you get from completing it lasts a lot longer than any other side effects! As to whether or not I’ll do it again….time will tell! - Rowena Ruden