A brave woman battling Multiple Sclerosis will mark 10 years since she was first diagnosed with the condition - by putting on a dazzling Christmas display.
Mairi Valentine wants to raise money for the MS Society UK by turning her home into a winter wonderland this festive season.
The Bearsden native first learned she had MS at 23 just after the birth of her daughter and has experienced severe symptoms including turning blind in one eye.
The 33-year-old said: “I remember after my daughter was born, I went completely numb on the left-hand side of my body.
“I had an epidural so I just thought maybe that hadn’t worn off.
“But it was quite obvious that it was MS to the doctor."
Mairi has dealt with a lot of 'relapses' in her MS journey such as being unable to walk or speak properly for a month and having a seizure which resulted in her losing her licence for a year.
Now she wants to people who may be unaware that they have the condition by fundraising through a Christmas decoration switch-on at her house in Bearsden.
As she gears up to install her new sleigh and get the snow machine ready for the switch-on on November 10, Mairi said: “We began putting on the big, bright decorations 10 years ago and since then, it has just grown arms and legs.
“It’s my favourite time of the year, and it’s nice to raise a bit of money.
“Last year was the first time we did a proper switch-on and invited people around to watch."
The switch-on and decorations have generated a lot of interest from locals in the area especially youngsters.
Mairi explained: “Everyone is so happy and excited when they see the decorations, even in the cold.
“Kids come into the driveway to take pictures with the light, and I can see them all smiling and hear them laughing as I’m sitting inside.”
The link to Mairi’s Justgiving can be found HERE
Going forward, and Christmas displays aside, Mairi is looking at new medical remedies to help with her MS.
She is looking to perhaps try an HSTC (Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation) treatment, as she is currently going to the hospital every six months to undergo an infusion.
MS is a condition that affects the brain and/or spinal cord.
It can cause symptoms like problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.
For more information on MS, click HERE
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