An epic sailing adventure gave Robert Munns “a new perspective on life” and inspired him to help other people with MS experience the joy of sailing too. This is his story.
People who don't know that I have MS cannot really tell. I do consider myself lucky, but they don't see the real story. You see, I'd never really been ill before.
To be hit with an inexplicable attack (double vision, speech issues and electrical impulses through my body) and then to be told after all the many tests that this is what 'I had' was devastating at the time. I was in the prime of my life. The world was my oyster and I was enjoying the ride. In 2008, however, all that was brought into question: EVERYTHING was petrifying. And for me the fear has always been the killer. What's causing this pain? Why can't I sleep? Why am I so tired? Why do I ache? I must admit that for someone with MS, this is not unique.
Then in 2014, I stumbled over a crazy scheme to sail around the world with a crew of people with MS. Oceans of Hope it was called, "out into life" they said. As a pretty experienced boat person, my knee jerk reaction was to apply.
In December 2014 I was accepted for the Pacific leg of the circumnavigation. I then made my travel plans and resigned from work (hasty, I know) and by February 2015, I was on board Oceans of Hope in the Galápagos Islands with a full complement of MS crew bound for Tahiti. It was to be a journey of just over 4,000 miles with a couple of stop offs at small islands mid Pacific.
During my time on board, I learned a lot about MS and my relationship with it. What I'd learned was mainly twofold. Namely how much I'd been disconnected from life and secondly how important humour is.
I had not been engaging in life since 2008, which was quite clearly depressing. Being on the boat made me realise how much I had not been present. Life was happening to others, I was just standing by, not my whole self. What also struck me as important was humour. I've always enjoyed laughter (who hasn't?), but it took some time, space and good people on board Oceans of Hope to make me realise how much I had missed laughter for some considerable amount of time.
Once I left the boat, I had some time to absorb and reflect on my journey so far with MS along with the new positive perspective on life. This new perspective was given to me on board Oceans of Hope. It was a gift, a present... a cake for me to take away and eat.
That summer, I was compelled to continue with this journey and I decided that this gift, this cake that I was given, needed to be replicated. More people with MS had to have the same opportunity as me, so I founded Oceans of Hope UK.
That was 2015… it's now 2020!
With the help and support of great people we are still striving to achieve this. Since 2015 we have been organising sailing trips, taking over 400 people sailing with us so far. Since 2018, we have been a UK registered charity Oceans of Hope UK. For people that haven't come sailing with us yet, it's important to say that it really does make a difference to people's lives. It's that simple.
You can find out more about Oceans of Hope and how you can get involved at: oceansofhope.co.uk. Search for Oceans of Hope UK on Facebook, follow on Twitter at @OOHChallenge and Instagram @oceansofhopechallenge.
