DIANNE Yoong has taken the fight against multiple sclerosis to the Murray River on a journey to South Australia.
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The Melbourne woman and her husband, Kiam, left Albury on Sunday on their way to Goolwa as part of their Kiss Goodbye to MS fundraiser and voyage.
Mrs Yoong said it was just one step on the road to freedom during the journey.
“We haven’t been able to do much since I’ve been sick,” she said.
“I see the Murray as my healing place, I always feel merged with the water on the boat.”
Mrs Yoong was diagnosed eight years ago just after her 40th birthday.
“It was going downhill quite rapidly,” she said.
“I also found out two years ago I had a rare genetic heart condition.
“I’d given up work and it was my daughter who said I should find something to do with my days.”
That was the catalyst for the trip, which Mrs Yoong hoped would help raise awareness of illness, and money for MS research.
“I loved being on the boat, so the idea was born from wanting to go from the source of the Murray as far as we could.”
Despite the uphill battles, Mr Toong said his wife hadn’t taken a backward step.
“Dianne is not the person that will sit in bed and sulk,” he said.
“She’ll be the one that’s going out every day regardless and living with the pain.”
Mrs Yoong said she knew each day could bring challenges.
“I think having MS and being told you have another condition is something quite confronting,” she said.
“I’ve sat with bad news on a couple of occasions and I really do feel there is no guarantee and you have to be in the day no matter what you’re given.”
The trip was not without hiccups on Sunday; their boat River Spirit caught on a sand bar after the launch from Noreuil Park, Albury.
Mr Yoong said the support team was an important element of the trip.
“The biggest thing is seeing the support from the family,” he said.
More information can be found at dianneyoong.com.