BIG Brother 2023 star Kerry Riches broke down in tears on Instagram to thank her fans for their support during MS awareness week.
The former housemate, who has relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, has been asking fans for their help to spread awareness for the condition.
During her time in the house, Kerry was known for using a mobility scooter as well as a cane to make her way around the house.
Wanting to use her platform for good, Kerry has since partnered with the MS Society, asking fans to get MS Awareness Week national recognition.
Fans were quick to jump into action and within days, the star had landed spots on TV and radio to share her story on living with the condition.
Touched by the support, Kerry posted on Instagram and was teary-eyed as she shared what they had done, and the importance of the work they were doing.
“Oh my god, snot just come out my nose,” she said as she gathered herself from crying. “
“It’s been a massive joint effort. I don’t think that MS Awareness Week has ever had so much media coverage, and that’s down to you guys and everyone that’s been happy to share their story,” she said, joking she was ‘ugly crying’.
“It’s gonna get deep folks, so I apologise in advance,” Kerry warned. “When I got diagnosed with MS 16 years ago, I absolutely said with every fibre of my being, I will make a difference.
“So I worked for a long time with the NHS as an inclusion champion, just to give people with disability a voice, and then obviously took a break and decided to not do reflective writing, and go in the Big Brother house, and that again was just to show anyone that you can.”
Breaking down, Kelly tried to psych herself up again, hilariously telling “the dogs were all looking at her like she’s crazy.”
“I seriously this week has been everything, more than I could ever have asked for,” she said after gathering herself.
“Thank you to the MS Society and the other amazing charities for giving me the responsibility and allowing me to run with a baton,” before correcting herself.
“Not run… We’ll go scoot. Scoot with a baton, to just do what I want really, because that hashtag unfiltered meant everything to me because we don’t talk about it enough.”
What is multiple sclerosis?
MULTIPLE sclerosis can affect the spinal cord as well as the brain causing nerve damage and lifelong ailments.
Exactly what causes MS is unknown, but it is suggested that the condition occurs from a mixture of genetic and environmental factors.
MS is an autoimmune condition. This means that the body’s immune system (designed to fight any infection or foreign body in your system) mistakes an area of the body for a threat and attacks it.
In the case of MS, the most common areas for the immune system to fight are the myelin sheaths (layers that cover and protect your nerves while also helping them transmit signals around the body) in the brain and/or spinal cord.
This can slow down the nerve signals, jumble them up or stop them completely, leading to a loss of control over certain functions in the body.
Common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Vision problems
- Numbness and tingling
- Muscle spasms, stiffness and weakness
- Mobility problems
- Pain
- Problems with thinking, learning and planning
- Depression and anxiety
- Sexual problems
- Bladder problems
- Bowel problems
- Speech and swallowing difficulties
For more information about specific treatments and support, visit the NHS website.
As her voice began to crack again, she said: “You can tell I’ve been talking too much, can’t you, over the last few weeks. I’ve got no voice, so honey and lemon with me until the TV crew pitch up.
“I’m just buzzing, and I wanted you guys to know, because it’s a real moment and thank you so much because honestly raising awareness for this disability that is so cruel, takes so much, and takes a huge amount of determination,” she concluded.
“I don’t use the word MS warriors lightly because you are, we are, all warriors. We really are all in this together and I love you.”
