My MS Journey by Roger Forbes

I was born in 1970 in Barking, Essex, and growing up, I lived with my family. I have twin brothers who were 2 and a half years older than me. I enjoyed water skiing as a child and continued this into my early 20’s.

My mum realised quite early on that I may have dyslexia, and at the age of 8, I attended a specialist school each day by minibus. Then, aged 13, I was sent to a boarding school specialising in dyslexia, which fortunately was funded by the Local Authority. I also went to Grenville College in Devon before studying for a 2 Year BTEC course in construction at Chelmsford Institution.

My dad was the Director of Commercial Union Properties in London and was fortunate to take early retirement at the age of 50. A fascinating family fact is that my grandfather, Donald Forbes, was friends with Winston Churchill, and my father‘s godmother was  Lady Clementine Churchill. We have some wonderful mementoes, including the silver christening cup gifted to my grandfather by the Churchills.

I spent 4 years at The University of Glamorgan studying Construction Management, which was sponsored by the Keir Group. After graduating, I started work for Kier and had a successful career with the Kier Group for the next 20 years.

While at work, I noticed that my eyes were becoming very blurred and unbeknownst to me at that time, this was an early symptom of MS.

In 1994, I married my now ex-wife, and had two lovely boys, Harrison and Archie and also in that year I was first diagnosed with MS.

I had started noticing changes and deterioration in my vision and this was also noticeable in my legs when they started to get increasingly unsteady. I first became aware of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and the MS Centres in the early 2000s when I visited the Harrow Centre. I also became a Trustee there and still have regular contact with them today.

After having the boys, we moved to Monmouth in 2009.  At that time, I  started visiting the West of England MS Therapy Centre in Nailsea.   I came across from Monmouth every week for Oxygen Therapy as I noticed the benefits. I continued to do so when the Centre relocated to Bradley Stoke in 2012.

In 2018, I travelled to Mexico to undergo HSCT Stem Cell Therapy, where the treatment lasted for a month. I was given 1-2 weeks of chemotherapy, where my stem cells were removed and then reintroduced back into the body. I was very fortunate that a number of my family members came over to Mexico to visit me during that month. Initially, I felt the benefits in my walking and found that walking seemed much easier after the treatment. 

I don’t think that I fully benefited from this treatment as I had a number of very stressful events occurring at that time, including my divorce and, sadly, my Dad passed away.

Around that time, I relocated to Bristol, in fact to Bradley Stoke, to be near the Centre. I became a Trustee at the Brightwell in 2022.

All my fundraising activities are really important to me, and I am proud to say that I have raised thousands of pounds over the years.

One of my early challenges was that I did a skydive in 2014, and did the SAS course over Pen Y Fan two years running, being supported by a rugby team that pushed and carried me over the course, an amazing experience raising funds for the Brightwell. I have been fortunate enough to have several friends, one of whom raised over £8,000 riding up Mont Ventoux 3 times in a day, I couldn’t be prouder!

My most recent challenge was in May 2025 when I abseiled down the side of the Village Hotel!

I am a keen fitness fanatic and have kitted out my garage with equipment to help keep my muscles strong and flexible. I also take part in Move4MS each January to commit to moving each and every day of that month.

I don’t travel as much these days, but I did get to visit Las Vegas in 2023 for 2 weeks with my partner, which was amazing, and I plan to go on a cruise around Europe in 2027!

The Brightwell is a lifeline for me as it is a place where I can be sociable, as I live alone. It is handy for me to get to in my electric wheelchair. Staff and volunteers are so helpful. I can also enjoy a nice lunch from the Cafe.

I am often at the Centre, so please come and say hello!

I hope you found the story of my MS journey of interest.

Best Wishes

Roger.