The best life for the new me
I'm 48 years of age.  Until 5 years ago, I had no concerns about my life.  After all, I had worked myself into a good position (I was happily married with two wonderful kids, had an awesome job with career prospects, was financially secure and I had great health).  This all changed in a moment; a motorcycle accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and some left side physical injuries.  I never fully recovered, and was unable to return to work, losing my career as a Chartered Accountant.  A year later, came the diagnosis of MS, to add to my health woes (triggered by injury trauma and post-accident stress).  Thankfully, my family and friends continue to support me.

After being medically discharged from work, I spent six months at home looking at my 'back fence', getting very frustrated and grieving for the 'old me'.  This situation became intolerable.  Eventually, I came to the 'place', where I decided I needed to focus on making the best life for the 'new me'.  I would not allow this bad situation to completely confine me and wreck my life.  I would change my lifestyle, by being positive and pursue any beneficial opportunities that came my way.  To this end, I changed lifestyle to include daily aerobic exercise, a healthy diet, stress avoidance and good sleep; and I commenced on an MS drug medication.  Over time, I was able (through training) to participate and successfully compete in sporting activities (swimming, biking and running) and I have joined local interest groups to remain socially engaged.

In recent years, I have enjoyed some remarkable opportunities and gained unimaginable successes.  These include being selected to represent New Zealand at three world championship triathlon and duathlon events (as our para-triathlete), gaining credible fourth places.  I was sponsored and placed into a cycle team for a seven-day race (where competitors raised $24,000 for MS NZ during the event).  Last year, I was awarded '40+ years Sports Person of the Year' for my district.  And now, I'm looking forward to participating in the Oceans of Hope Darwin to Singapore leg of its global voyage. Amazing stuff.

Sailing, connecting with nature and being extended
I enjoy sailing, along with any other water sports (swimming, fishing, etc.).  I live on the shores of Lake Taupo, New Zealand, so being on the water is almost a daily activity for me.  I own three boats, one being a small 'Phase II' racing yacht.  My sailing history is more casual and pleasure based.  When I was a child, I really enjoyed accompanying my Uncle who regularly took me sailing aboard his 30ft Keeler, and later on his 32ft Trailer Sailer.  I have entered my Phase II yacht into a few Yacht Club races, but many years ago now.  Nowadays, I regularly sail my Phase II yacht during summer, but I always select a time when the wind is steady and firm (predictable), as these conditions make sailing enjoyable.  Gone are the days, when I pushed my yacht and myself to the limits in strong and gusty conditions. What I enjoy about sailing is the 'connection' you must make with nature (i.e. with the wind, waves, scenery, etc.) to harness propulsion to take you on the journey.  Now that I have MS any opportunity to sail, while I am still able to, is always a precious moment as it helps me maintain a quality lifestyle and feeling of well-being.

The Oceans of Hope voyage provides me with the opportunity to take part in an 'open water ocean' sail.  This type of sailing will be a new experience for me.  The yacht is a large and sophisticated vessel, so I am looking forward to up-skilling and learning new knowledge too.  An overseas voyage involving an ocean crossing, will be a challenge for me, but I like being extended, trying new tasks, and taking on the 'unknown', so participating in this journey will be exciting.  Despite having MS, I am always looking for opportunities and circumstances that will extend my ‘comfort zone’ and confidence.

The goal of Oceans of Hope is to "change people's perceptions about MS and what can be achieved".  This aligns with my own objectives.  So I hope that my own involvement in the OOH voyage will inspire and encourage other people (particularly those with MS or other chronic illness and disability), to see what opportunities are available to them in their lives and to inspire them to 'step-out' to pursue their own opportunity. 

What lies ahead
What I am looking forward to the most is meeting other people, particularly my fellow crewmembers, whose lives have similarly been touched by MS, receiving their inspiration, encouragement and fellowship.  As well as looking forward to enjoying the company of the crew, I hope to develop new friendships, to share challenging moments, experience great occasions and to have heaps of fun with my newfound friends.  By the end of the voyage, I expect to have been positively affected and to have 'grown' as an individual.  I also expect this experience to provide confirmation that in spite of illness and disability, there is still room to participate in life changing adventures.  Having MS does not need to completely wreck my life, limit my involvement in society, reduce my participation, or curtail avenues for having fun.

On a practical/logistical note, I struggle to plan, prepare and pack for travel.  This is what I am least liking about taking part in the voyage.  For me, I just want to get onto the yacht and for the voyage to commence.  Fortunately, my wife is helping me get organised.  So, I expect to be in my element, when I leave home and finally get aboard the yacht.

Why Oceans of Hope changes perceptions
When MS 'attacks' it often takes away aspects of your functionality (i.e. mobility and cognition), resulting in lost confidence and reduced independence.  This can subsequently lead to confinement and restriction that, subsequently, erodes away your ‘quality of life’ and feeling of personal ‘well-being’.  Therefore, many people consider the diagnosis of MS to be a life sentence of sedentary ‘home detention’ and social isolation.  

What I like about the OOH voyage and its 'taster sails', is that it provides an environment for people, afflicted with MS, to explore a pleasurable activity (sailing).  I believe that when people experience the joy derived from the successful completion of a desirable activity, this can raise confidence levels, which consequentially can re-impart an attitude that leads to a desire to seek out and explore greater involvement in other beneficial activities.

I therefore hope that an OOH experience will be a source of inspiration that motivates people, afflicted by MS, to explore ways to regain and/or maintain their independence and confidence.  I hope that an OOH experience will inspire people to ‘maximise their potential’, to pursue positive goals and objectives, and to chase beneficial aspirations that may have been lost or not even considered possible, since their diagnosis of MS.  I desire that obstructive ‘barriers of limitation’ are pushed away, that unhelpful mindsets of in-activity are removed, and lack of social interaction is replaced by community connection.  I hope that participation in an OOH adventure would be the starting point that extends people’s quality of life and the regaining of their personal well-being.

Inspire and challenge people!
I hope that my own involvement in the OOH voyage, and the benefits that I expect to personally capture from my own participation, will be a demonstration that I can use to continue inspiring other people afflicted by illness and disablement.  Whilst being afflicted by MS is not the greatest predicament, I always encourage people to seek out ‘the best from their bad situation’.  It is surprising what opportunities and benefits that can occur over time. Do not let MS unnecessarily rob you of more functionality, participation and personal well-being.

Living with MS and a TBI, is not easy. There are daily challenges to endure and life can be unpredictable (for example, I lost the sight in my right eye for three months earlier this year).  Overall, I do enjoy a quality of life (as determined by good circumstances outweighing the impact of any bad circumstances).  In recent years, I have been able to use my own example, my amazing experiences and successes to inspire and encourage other people in my community. I believe that my involvement in the OOH voyage will be another avenue for me to inspire and challenge people with chronic illness and disability, to explore avenues in their lives that will improve their well-being and quality of life.