Haddenham charity Overcoming MS host reception at Parliament to showcase work

The new video, called Imagine Overcoming MS, features people recovering from their MS symptoms by following an evidence-based lifestyle programme that includes a plant-based diet, regular exercise, Vitamin D and stress reduction techniques.

Stephen Lloyd MP said: “I have a constituent with Multiple Sclerosis who follows the OMS approach, and his lifestyle and capacity are exceptional. So much so I wanted to learn more and met with the charity’s Chair and CEO. Through them I went on to meet another ten or so people with MS, who also follow the regime. Their health and well-being, despite having the illness, were equally impressive. These astonishing results are why I am sponsoring today’s OMS event in parliament. It undeniably works. Perhaps not for everyone, but enough for us all to ask why isn’t it available to every new MS patient at diagnosis? It certainly should be.”

The charity has published eleven ‘real-life stories of hope’ on their website, which you can view by clicking here.

Linda Bloom, Chair of Overcoming MS said, “We want every person, newly diagnosed with MS, to be aware of the OMS programme. We aim to give them some realistic hope when they may have none and we want to fuel them with knowledge about how they can give themselves the best chance to get better or even recover from MS, like myself.”

Caroline Clarke, Group Chief Executive, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, who also has MS, follows the OMS programme and is a trustee of the charity, commented, “The NHS Long Term plan, published in January this year, focuses on health promotion, well-being and social prescribing which is absolutely in line with what the OMS programme is about - a healthy diet, exercise, vitamin supplements and stress reduction.

“The work of the charity is so important for people with MS, and for the NHS. We need to reach more people and to reach them early - ideally when they are diagnosed - so they can be helped early in their journey and avoid some, if not all, of the debilitating symptoms that come with MS.

‘If we gave 50% of the 5000 people newly diagnosed with MS in the UK each year, an extra five years of working life, that equates to £150 million saving each year in pure economic terms.”

Linda added, “We applaud the recent campaigning to raise funds to accelerate new research and stop MS with treatments available for everyone by 2025.

“We also strongly believe that those living with MS today can make lifestyle changes that will improve their health outcomes. We know, from rigorously-researched medical evidence, that overcoming MS is possible now and we want to share that hope with as many people as possible.”