Charity and light-up walking stick restored my zest for life after MS diagnosis

The way Joanne Newall looked at it, if her multiple sclerosis (MS) meant she had to walk with the aid of a stick, it was going to be “the fanciest stick you have ever seen.”But it wasn’t always like that for the 35-year-old, who sank into a low mood when the realisation struck that the extreme fatigue associated with her progressive autoimmune nervous system disorder would rob her of her job.It was free counselling from MS Society Scotland that pulled her from the depths of despair and helped her to rediscover her infectious zest for life.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Now, in a bid to repay the charity for showing her how to regain her sparkle, Joanne donates her time as the recently-appointed volunteer coordinator for the MS Society Ayrshire and Arran local group – a role that’s boosted her confidence and introduced her to a pride of like-minded people who are living their best life with MS.Four years ago, while in her early 30s, Joanne began experiencing symptoms that she put down to “anything but MS.”She had a tingling sensation, coupled with pins and needles that sometimes felt like an army of ants crawling up her right arm.At the height of Covid, Joanne – who’s had type 1 diabetes since the age of 10 – put off calling her GP, believing her complaint to be trivial against a backdrop of the