How gardening helps me to manage my MS – and helps me give back
David was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 2005 and started his gardening stall in April 2020. Here he shares how gardening helps him to manage his MS and to give back to the community.
Diagnosis and treatment
I was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS in 2005. At the time I was working for the NHS and I had to retire early in 2011.
I’ve tried several disease modifying therapies (DMTs) over the years. The last one was Tecfidera. But I had to stop when it had an adverse effect on my immune system. It took some time to find something that worked for me. But now I take 75mg of Pregabalin every day which helps to manage my pain and numbness.
My MS means I live with daily pain. But I’ve found that staying active helps me to keep it under control.
Staying active
I’ve always loved gardening and it’s a great way of exercising. Some days I even manage to get to 10,000 steps, just by walking from my greenhouses to the stall on my drive! But when COVID-19 struck it became an even better option for us to keep active when we were stuck at home.
During the pandemic I wanted to give back and use my passion for gardening to raise money for the NHS. So, in April 2020 I opened my stall ‘David’s Growing Plants for the NHS’. I just ask for a donation to the NHS for the plants.
The plants I grow
I run my stall from my home in Woodford in Northants. It’s open every day and I grow a wide variety of plants throughout the year.
I grow summer bedding plants from seed like marigolds, begonias, cosmos and rudbeckias. I also grow lots of vegetables including broad beans, runner beans, courgettes, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.
In the summer, I sell fresh cut bunches of sweet peas. And this year I’m hoping to sell cut dahlias from my dahlia collection.
I also offer freshly picked tomatoes and beans.
I just ask for the customers to return the pots and trays to me after use.
The stall has taken off
My stall has become bigger than I could ever have predicted. I have a Facebook group which now has over 1,500 members and I keep them up to date with what’s available. I also want to encourage people to enjoy gardening like I do. So, I do live broadcasts from the stall, post advice videos and weekend garden photo challenges.
Find out more from David's Facebook group page
In every post I tell people how much we’ve raised.
It’s definitely become part of our community. Lots of people help out by providing pots, packets of seeds and apples in the autumn. A friend of mine makes and gifts bird nesting boxes and bug hotels. And every year my sister makes Christmas wreaths for the stall.
£30,000 raised for the NHS
I was delighted when the stall reached my target of donating £30,000. I gave the customer a large lily pot and a certificate.
But I’m determined not to stop there. I’ve set a new target of £50,000. In my view, it’ll take as long as it takes.
I feel really lucky. I get to do what I love, which keeps me healthy and active. And I get to help the community and help to improve other people’s health by raising money for the NHS.
