Winners

Shelley takes steps to beat MS

When Shelley Adams was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2019 she began taking regular walks near her Oxfordshire home to help her physical and mental wellbeing.

Shelley, 52, said, “My MS symptoms meant that I had to give up being a community carer, a job I absolutely loved. This put a strain on our finances and heightened my clinical anxiety, and I desperately needed something to focus my mind, so I started walking.”

In August, Shelley and husband David, 61, won £1Million on Lotto. But the windfall – and the couple’s decision to buy two cars – has not altered Shelley’s routine. She may have traded in her old trainers for a pair of “snazzy walking shoes” and a FitBit, but the walks remain an important part of her day.

She said, “I don’t do long walks, but I am very regular, taking a stroll around the block at least twice a day when my condition allows. In fact, I’m such a regular sight that my neighbours give me a wave as I pass by and check how many laps I’ve done!”

Shelley hopes her regular walks will stand her in good stead when she and David take part in MS Walk LIVE. The event – a virtual walk on the 20th September to raise funds for MS research – is a replacement for The MS Society’s annual MS Walk that was cancelled due to the coronavirus.

Instead of participating in large scale MS Walk events in cities including London, Manchester, Belfast and Cardiff, MS Walk Live will see thousands of people completing walks in their own neighbourhoods. Shelley and David are taking part in the event – which will be broadcast on social media – with one of their friends, David Friend, who is also living with MS.

Shelley said, “I know that I can’t single-handedly stop this horrendous disease but hopefully by making more people aware of it and also doing my bit to raise some funds through MS Walk, we will be one small step closer. In the meantime, I’m going to keep strolling for as long as I can.”

The couple admit they are still coming to terms with their 1st August Lotto win. Shelley said, “It really is the stuff of dreams. I just can’t believe how our life has changed so wonderfully in the last couple of months.”

18th September 2020

The National Lottery has been changing the lives of winners and supporting good causes across the UK since 1994. In that time, there have been more than 7,000 new millionaires created and by playing The National Lottery you raise over £4 million for Good Causes every dayΔ.

Discover more
Please wait