Peter James is a firm believer that a positive attitude and daily exercise can work wonders.
The 63-year-old Keilor resident was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1995 and he retired as a general manager at BHP Billiton in 2006 because he physically could not keep up.
“I was more and more immobile,” Mr James said. “I was using two crutches and sometimes a wheelchair.”
MS, which affects the central nervous system and interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body, has no known cure.
Facing the prospect of being in a wheelchair permanently, Mr James decided to take charge of his health and lose weight.
He bought a trike and before long signed up to do his first MS Melbourne Cycle, which raises money for people living with MS.
Mr James’s team, Keilor Cares, has raised more than $170,000 for MS Melbourne Cycle since 2008.
This year, Mr James is the top individual fundraiser for the event, having already collected $4185.
To top it off, Mr James has lost 22 kilograms from riding his trike daily and now relies only on a walking stick.
He called on fellow MS sufferers to remain positive. “Don’t give up hope, there’s lots of treatment now and the course of the disease can change for the better,” he said.
“Exercise helps for anybody with MS.”
The 2015 MS Melbourne Cycle will take place on Sunday, April 19.
To donate, go to bit.ly/1LnuyDB
