Inspired to become centre of attention

Dec 26 2007 by David Higgerson, Liverpool Daily Post

Continuing our Inspiration Series, David Higgerson talks to MS sufferer Catherine McGiveron, and finds out why her family have helped her take to the catwalk

CATHERINE McGIVERON has never sought to be the centre of attention. Yet early next year, when she steps out onto the catwalk at a Manchester Fashion Show, that’s exactly what she will be.

But what many of the people watching Catherine won’t know is quite what it has taken to get on to the catwalk.

For the past 15 years, Catherine, from Maghull, has lived with Multiple Sclerosis, a condition which is as life-changing as it is debilitating.

Catherine said: “Up until five years ago, I had been able to carry on my job with the primary care trust in Sefton as a district nursing sister, but slowly things like not being as steady with my hands meant I had to give it up.

“Little things like trying to take blood from a patient became harder, so I decided it was best to stop.

“I would have spells of suffering fatigue, and couldn't do the heavy lifting side of the job either, so I knew I couldn’t carry on.

“But, despite the side-effects of MS, I am determined to live life to the full, and I couldn’t do that without the support of my daughter or my mother, who have really helped me.”

Their support has manifested itself in many ways, not least in helping her prepare for the catwalk debut, which will take place at Manchester Central – the new name for the GMEX, in Manchester city centre – in February.

It has been organised by the MS Society as part of a larger event, and those behind the fashion show say they want to prove that disability has a place on the catwalk.

It is a notion which Catherine buys into, saying: “I’d never have any aspirations to become a model, but I was delighted to be asked to take part in this event.

“One of the things I have always tried to do since being diagnosed with MS is help other people who are perhaps coming to terms with MS, or have friends and family with MS.

“The ability to have someone to talk to about it has always been there for me, and I hope that I can do the same for others and show that life still goes on, even with MS.

“I can’t wait to prove that when I do the show. The family is very excited by it; I’m quite nervous, though. Again, it’s their support which has helped.”

Three years ago, Catherine set up the South Sefton MS Support Group.

She said: “There are bad times which is when you need support to get over them, and I also think it is important that people get the information they need to help deal with MS.

“By proving a support network for others, hopefully we can help a lot of people. It’s easy to think that perhaps you are alone in dealing with a particular problem, yet when you talk to people you can often find out they had exactly the same problem but found a way round it. Sometimes, it is just about learning new skills.

“We get a lot of guest speakers along. Sometimes, having things explained to you about what is going on can help work out how to manage.

“But the most important thing is support. I’ve been lucky, whenever I’ve had problems both my daughter, and my mother, have been there to help. I hope the support group means other people have that support there, too.

“A lot of people know of MS, but aren’t sure exactly what it is or what it means to have it.”

MS is a condition of the central nervous system.

It is the most common disabling neurological disease among young adults and affects around 85,000 people in the UK.

MS is most often diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40, and women are almost twice as likely to develop it as men.

Once diagnosed, MS stays with a person for life, but treatments and specialists can help to manage many symptoms well.

Although its cause is not known and a cure has yet to be identified, research continues into all aspects of the condition.

MS is an auto-immune condition, meaning the immune system, which normally helps to fight off infections, mistakes the body’s own tissue for a foreign body, such as infectious bacteria, and attacks it.

It is nerve damage that causes the accumulation of disability that can occur over time.

Put all that detail and then consider Catherine’s determination to help others, and it is easy to see why others at the MS Society consider her to be an inspiration.

And while the cure remains elusive, Catherine believes being positive can have a big impact in terms of living with the condition.

She said: “It would be very easy to get down about things, particularly if you have to rely on other people or things like being off balance happen.

“I’ve lived with MS for 15 years and things have chan- ged, but I still do a lot, the support group means a lot to me and I have a lov- ing family around me.

“Once you learn to live with it, there’s no reason why can’t lead a normal life. Hopefully, by taking part in the fashion show, I’ll prove that is what I’m doing, and hopefully that will help others, too.”

davidhiggerson