Kat and Sarah named themselves the MSisters and took on the Cape to Cape, Australia’s largest four-day mountain bike stage race.
Kat and Sarah took on the challenge to fundraise for Kiss Goodbye to MS to ensure vital research continues into treatments and a cure — their efforts raising more than $2,000 to fight MS.
Based in Margaret River, Western Australia, the iconic riding experience is roughly 200km and 2,500m of climbing in total. Each day’s ride is between 34km and 59km.
The MSisters connected over social media following Sarah’s diagnosis and a subsequent search on Google.
Kat says, “Sarah and I are both fortunate enough to be living well with MS. But others are not in the same position, and many others will be diagnosed in future. If we can contribute even in a small way by raising funds for research towards treatment, prevention, a cure, and awareness about what’s possible with MS — and maybe even inspire someone to chase big goals — then we’ll consider it a success.”
Sarah says, “We are mad keen mountain bikers and decided that we wanted to a) change the perception of what MS looks like and b) give some hope to others that MS is not a death sentence and doesn’t mean that you can’t keep doing the things that you love (you just may have to modify or change your approach to them).”
For Kat, her MS diagnosis came three months after her initial symptoms.
“I was meant to be competing in an adventure race in late 2017 – I woke up the morning of the race being quite unwell. I wasn’t able to race, and about three days later, I lost my hearing on one side. Cue a bunch of specialists and tests, and accumulation of some more sensory and neurological symptoms, and I had a diagnosis about three months later. I knew nothing about MS at the time – it was a steep learning curve!” says Kat.
For Sarah, hers was a more ‘dramatic’ presentation to the hospital.
“I was diagnosed two years ago after rupturing my Achilles whilst skiing and then having a bunch of neurological symptoms present over the following weeks.
“Thankfully, because of how my symptoms presented (double vision in left eye, no use of right hand and arm, spasm right side of torso, and a ruptured right Achilles), I was admitted to hospital here in Auckland and went through appointments with neurology, CT scans and MRIs to rule out strokes, head injuries etc. and after a week came out with a diagnosis of MS instead,” says Sarah.
The MSisters want to acknowledge the incredible support of their neurology teams. For Sarah, her neurologist Dr Jennifer Pereira and the MS nurses at Auckland Hospital have been amazing and incredibly supportive throughout her MS journey. And for Kat, Dr Andrew Kelly at Nexus Neurology in Western Australia.
To create your own local MS fundraiser, visit Kiss Goodbye to MS.
