Our story
Lukas' story
My MS story began in the beginning of 2015 when I heard my diagnosis.
At first, I didn’t comprehend what has happened and kept my life as I used to, but experiencing most of the symptoms that come with MS it started to sink in. It was so unexpected and it shook the base of our young, fast paced, London based life. We were two young Lithuanians who came to London to study and ended up settling down in multicultural environment which was a great fit to both of us.
I often have a song in my head to almost every situation in my life, it is my way of seeing things, good or bad, happy or sad. After I’ve been diagnosed the music stopped. My mind didn’t know which playlist to choose or which song to play.
Only about a couple of years ago, after I was prescribed with medication, music started to come back to me. I started seeing things in a different perspective, more clearly. Slowly my zest for life was restored. I want to make plans again. That happened because the support around me from my family, closest friends and organizations such as MS Society which is crucial in situations like I was in, never stopped. I am grateful for all the support I have received and today it is my turn to give something back. To others with MS (or any other chronic illness), to their families and support system around us.
The diagnosis was never the end of my life, it was a beginning of something different.
I started running around the time I had my first symptoms – optical neuritis which stopped me from enjoying my two favorite sports – volleyball and basketball. It wasn’t easy but slowly it became my meditation, my calm and my peaceful time.
Running the London Marathon is a great way to show myself that I can live my life to the fullest and enjoy every moment of it. To remind myself that I am still here because of the support that I have around me. I am not aiming to achieve a good finishing time, I just want to have a fantastic experience and absorb every positive emotion during this day. That is what life is really about, isn’t it? The more uplifting songs on the playlist the better! It is going to be a huge achievement for me, I visualize the finish line every time I train, this brings me closer to my goal. Many thanks for your support and see you at the finish line!
Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor me and donations will be quickly processed and passed to charities.
Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity’s behalf where the donor is eligible for this.
I really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations!
Elena's story
To run the biggest marathon in the world is an honour. To run it for a good cause is even a greater one.
My wish was to fundraise for MS Society. For those who don’t know MS (Multiple Sclerosis) is a condition that affects your brain and spinal cord, causing a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance. It’s a lifelong condition that can cause serious disability.
The reason to run and fundraise for MS is very simple – I live with it! No, I do not have this diagnosis myself but my lifelong partner Lukas has been diagnosed with it back in 2015. After starting recognising first symptoms – worrying fatigue, mood swings, disbalance in legs, we knew it was a sign to see a doctor. The diagnosis followed immediately after that.
At that time we lived our lives in London with successful careers, hobbies, travels and all what young 30year-olds could do. We of course planned for more but after the crushing diagnosis, many conversations with doctors, researches on ‘what’s next’ with this condition we slowly realised that it’s not the New York or Los Angeles heights we should be chasing, but we should reconsider it all and make the necessary lifestyle changes for both of us.
Decision to change our path was not easy. To leave it all behind and start from scratch in another country was a challenge but today we know, it was the right one. We made it work, again!
It’s been 6 years after the diagnosis, changes in daily routines, diet, mindset and after annual MRI scan we learned that MS has hibernated, it shows no signs at this moment, health is good, meds are helping but we need to stay on top of it to delay any relapses as long as possible.
One of my personal goals for the fundraise is of course to support my husband Lukas and all others who have the lifelong condition, but today I have a bigger goal – to support ALL the wives, husbands, daughters, sons, partners and other close family members who live next to MS. I am one of you! We might not have the diagnosis ourselves but for sure we live with it every day of our lives. This unites us and being there for one another makes us stronger. We, close families, need that support too and it’s good to have someone who understands what you are going through. We have to stay strong together for ourselves and for them!
Running this marathon will give the sense of achievement which means I can now meet so many of you, relate to your stories and stay connected through life.
Everything happens for a reason. To be able to run my first marathon in Virgin Money London Marathon before my big 40 in December and to fundraise for MS Society to raise awareness for those affected with MS are my goals for 2021!
Please show your support by donating through Virgin Money Giving, all donations will be quickly processed and passed to charities. Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity’s behalf where the donor is eligible for this.
I really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations.