Ealing Man with Multiple Sclerosis Hails Helpline
Now volunteers for service which provided him support when first diagnosed
Aleks de Gromoboy received support from the helpline when first diagnosed
A man from Ealing who lives with multiple sclerosis (MS) is hailing the work of the MS Helpline which is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary.
58-year-old Aleks de Gromoboy was diagnosed with MS in 2011 and since that time he has both received support from the helpline and given back by volunteering.
The helpline was launched by the MS Society in November 1991 and supports tens of thousands of people affected by MS each year. Last year alone, it had over 26,000 enquiries on the phone, email and via Facebook messenger.
Aleks volunteers for the helpline but has also received support from the service in the past. He said, “I phoned the MS Helpline after I was diagnosed because I was having a difficult time with my employer and I wanted to understand what my rights were. For the first time since my diagnosis I was treated like a human being – MS wasn’t my defining feature. The person I spoke to was kind, caring and took time with me to discuss more than just the question I called about. I was left with a real sense of wanting to help and so I began volunteering as soon as I could.”
Aleks received training before starting to work for the helpline and now volunteers for half a day a week, “I have all the equipment at home to help me with the role. The training we’ve received as volunteers to take calls has been really substantial. Yes you can be affected by the calls at times – but there’s always someone to debrief with. It is wonderful to feel like I’m helping people. “
Over the past year the MS Helpline has extended the support it provides in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An MS Nurse Service began at the start of the first lockdown and had 1560 enquiries during 2020; befriending calls have also been added.
The MS Helpline also offers support from a Welfare Benefits Advisor, an MS Legal Advisor and a physical activity service.
Aleks added: “Calls range from people in tears, asking for emotional support, to professionals asking for information. We also have experts on hand to help with specific questions, too. The majority of calls are from people with MS but we also have a large number of people affected by MS, like family or employers, asking for help and information too, and that’s great.”
Abi Stidston and Julie Gaynor are joint Heads of Helpline at the MS Society, they say, “We’re incredibly proud to be marking the MS Helpline’s 30th anniversary this month and would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff and volunteers who’ve supported us over this time.
“Over 130,000 people live with MS in the UK and it can be relentless, painful and disabling. We want to be here for everyone impacted by the condition, whatever they’re going through – whether they are newly diagnosed, have lived with the condition for decades, or are a family member of someone with MS. We do everything from providing emotional support, offering information around treatment and therapies to helping people with benefits and financial difficulties.”
You can donate to this vital service through its website.
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November 17, 2021