A Walton woman living with multiple sclerosis is taking on an indoor skydive this month to raise money for the charity that has supported her for years.
Lisa McAdams, who lives in Walton, Stone, will be embarking on her flight challenge on Thursday 13 November at iFLY Manchester. She is raising funds for MS-UK, a national charity that helps people affected by MS, and one she now volunteers for herself.
Lisa, who uses a wheelchair full-time, said she wanted to take on something that truly pushed her.
“I was diagnosed when I was 23. I had no idea what the doctors were looking for so it came as quite a shock,” she said.
“Nowadays I use a wheelchair to get around and often struggle with fatigue and weakness, but keeping active really helps me.”
She added: “I love getting outside in the open air when I can, and there are lots of lovely places around Stone that are accessible for my mobility scooter.”
Lisa first became involved with MS-UK during the 2020 lockdown, when the charity began running online exercise sessions, workshops and weekly support groups known as ‘peer pods’. She now helps to run one of those sessions herself, providing a listening ear for others living with MS.
“For many years the MS didn’t really affect my day-to-day life and I didn’t tell anybody about it,” she said.
“Finding MS-UK and a group of people I can talk with openly was like a breath of fresh air.”
The condition affects the central nervous system and can cause symptoms such as fatigue, pain, numbness and mobility issues. Over 150,000 people in the UK are currently living with MS.
Lisa’s skydive aims to raise money to help MS-UK continue its work.
“They’ve been there when I’ve needed to talk, and I’ve met some amazing people through the charity,” she said.
“If this challenge can help someone else find that same support, it’ll be worth every second in the wind tunnel.”
Anyone wishing to support Lisa’s fundraiser can find her JustGiving page by searching for Lisa McAdams. https://www.justgiving.com/page/lisa-mcadams-2
