Wolverhampton woman with MS swimming 40 kilometres for therapy centre
65-year-old Jayne Charles is taking on her third fundraising swim for the centre
A 65-year-old Wolverhampton woman with multiple sclerosis is taking on a 40-mile swim challenge to give other MS patients a fighting chance.
Jayne Charles is aiming to raise £40,000 for the 40th anniversary of Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre.
The Bilston resident uses the oxygen chamber at the centre, and also attends for tea, biscuits and a chat with other patients on a regular basis
Jayne, who has had MS for 16 years, said: " I started with a limp on my right leg — sort of like I’d pulled a muscle — and then I had to learn to walk again the following day.
"It’s got to the stage now where I can’t do anything without help, most of the time."
She says having conversations and a cuppa there, with others who have MS, cancer, long COVID or other conditions, has a "massive impact.
"There's somebody else out there that knows what you're going through."
Jayne started swimming as soon as she was diagnosed with MS.
She said: "Day one, I was told by my specialist I could be in a wheelchair tomorrow permanently, and 16 years later I’m still standing.
"I think it’s a combination of the oxygen, chatting to all the people, and the swimming that has kept me on my feet."