My name is Andy McKenna. I was a Scottish mountain bike guide and ‘This Way Up’ is a 2017 documentary about living with Multiple Sclerosis and my quest for an active path to health.
In 2022, the follow up film 'Evolution' was released - this became a catalyst for the 'Evolution Stories' series including 'MS Makes Me' (2023).
Please ENJOY and share the filmS.
MS MAKES ME (2023)
EVOLUTION (2022)
THIS WAY UP (2017)
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Why am i so stoked on ms?
I'm not really 'stoked' on MS but I do appreciate the irony. Plus it's a decent way to kick start an important conversation about an ugly disease. I have been living with MS without use of pharmaceutical MS medication (until the longterm benefits of pharmaceuticals are proven to me, I'll stick to this personal path) since 2007 and I am proof that there’s a way of leading a healthy, productive life. To this day I still operate my mountain bike guiding business (Go-Where Scotland) with my wife Aneela and I get outside into the mountains on my bicycle as often as I can as part of my therapy. In 2018/19 we raised nearly £70, 000 for the unsung hero charity Overcoming MS and here's a recent podcast they kindly asked me to contribute to.
MS is an ‘incurable’ degenerative and disabling neurological disease affecting the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves of almost 2.5 million people worldwide. It usually causes attacks of neurologic symptoms including vision loss, paralysis, numbness, bladder problems and walking difficulties.
It’s still a mystery why it happens but it’s caused when the body’s own immune system attacks and damages the Myelin, a complex substance that surrounds and insulates nerve fibres, and reduces the ability of the brain and spinal cord to transmit signals. There is no medical cure for MS.
But all is not lost! There’s a growing community living with MS who believe there is an alternative way of managing the disabling effects of MS. It is not simply a pill or an injection - it’s an outlook, a set of lifestyle changes and holistic strategies that have been thoroughly researched, tried and tested. A set of changes that will help the healing power of the mind and body to work together.
STOKED ON MS is a way of creating dialogue with people about agency, autonomy and alternative ways of living well in the face of uncertainty. Overcoming MS (OMS) is the charity established to promote a positive lifestyle programme that aims to help people with MS live long, healthy lives. OMS is committed to improving the lives of people with MS by providing the tools to enable recovery.
WATCH THE BBC INTERVIEW
WATCH THE BBC INTERVIEW
SANTA CRUZ BRONSON BIKE RAFFLE
Thanks to everyone who has entered the raffle to win thIS Exclusively designed Santa Cruz mountain bike raffle to raise funds for the Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis (OMS) charity. The raffle has now closed and we HAVE JUST ANNOUNCED THE WINNER - CIARON WALTON FROM CHESHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM.
IMPORTANT STUFF
BIKE RAFFLE RULES
THE STOKED ON MS BRONSON RAFFLE
Thanks to everyone who has entered the raffle to win the exclusively designed Santa Cruz mountain bike raffle to raise funds for the Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis (OMS) charity. The raffle has now closed.
HOW BADLY DO YOU WANT THIS BIKE?
If you’re already convinced you want this bike and understand the entry rules, go buy your raffle tickets by hitting donate right now...but please come back to the site, watch the film and read why this is about more than a sweet bike.
Up for grabs is a one-of-a-kind, unique, custom-painted, fully-specced Santa Cruz Bicycles Bronson mountain bike in aid of my 'Stoked on MS' charity Overcoming MS. It’s a 150mm travel, 27.5 wheeled mega machine. This is the crème de la crème of mountain bikes.
But hold on, there's more. A lot more actually. It features awesome suspension and dropper post by Fox Racing Shox, Shimano's tried and true XT drivetrain and brakes, and Wilderness Trail Bikes tyres, grips and saddle. Also included is an EVOC backpack and ENDURA have created a custom MT500 jersey to match this beautiful Bronson bicycle.
Check out the detail, it’s incredible!
HOST A CHARITY SCREENING
Shortlisted by Vancouver and Kendal International Mountain Film Festivals, The full 25 MINUTE film is being screened across the globe as part of THE ‘Stoked on MS’ fundraising campaign.
:: ARE YOU interested in hosting A charity screening of 'THIS WAY UP' documentary? ::
MONIES RAISED GO TO the two unsung heroes who helped ME AND MANY OTHERS gain control of this disease by looking beyond the dominant MS treatments, to investigate the possibilities of managing MS through diet, rest, exercise and lifestyle changes - these GLOBAL charities are: The Swank Foundation and Overcoming MS (OMS).
Share your ideas
Guidelines & press pack
TELL THE WORLD
We'll help promote your event!
SCREENINGS
More dates & locations being added regularly - please check back
events
MAILING LIST
STAY STOKED ON MS
BIKE RAFFLE TERMS & CONDITIONS
Name: Stoked on MS Bronson Bike Raffle for Overcoming MS
Small societies lotteries registration No. LC201812-31528
Charity: Overcoming MS
UK Registered Charity No. 1157579
Registered as a Company limited by guarantee in England and Wales No. 9044459.
Address: Thame House, Thame Road, Haddenham, Bucks, HP17 8HU, United Kingdom
© 2019