TWO high-flying public figures have spoken of their renewed hope after being diagnosed with a debilitating disease.

Tim Cobb, managing director of Cobb PR in Brighton and Eastbourne, raised £30,000 for Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis at a fundraising lunch at The American Express Community Stadium at Falmer.

He was joined by Linda Bloom, wife of Brighton and Albion chairman Tony Bloom, who has fought a 15-year battle with the illness.

Both say they are feeling well with the help of the OMS charity.

It promotes a programme of diet and lifestyle management that has been shown to improve the health and lives of people with MS.

Professor George Jelinek, who was diagnosed with MS in 1999, developed the rigorously researched recovery programme more than 15 years ago.

Here is Tim’s story in his own words:

“I was a bit of a fitness nut.

“I ran every day with my dog.

“I’ve done a handful of marathons and I did a bit of weight training down the gym.

“So when I nipped in for a sports physio appointment to sort out a sore back I was a little surprised when the healthcare guy said I probably had multiple sclerosis.

“A Google search filled in the blanks in my knowledge.

“MS was a degenerative, debilitating, incurable disease that would probably knock ten years off my life and see me ending my years in a wheelchair.

“I decided the best way to deal with it was to go into denial.

“I did not want to talk about it and I certainly did not want to tell my three teenage sons.

“My wife Sue was my rock.

“She was my strength during a rather bleak time.

“She came across OMS and bought me a book about how some doctor in Australia suggested that MS was not as bad as it was cracked up to be.

“After a brief glimpse at the book I decided it was too much hassle.

“It suggested a change of diet, a change of lifestyle, taking up meditation and bloody yoga!

“Needless to say I crawled back into my dark place again.

“MS continued its destructive path – numbness in different parts of my body, stiffness around knee joints and loss of peripheral vision.

“I stopped driving for a period of time.

“Through a series of strange co- incidences, I once more found myself looking at the OMS approach to dealing with my condition.

“Sue encouraged me to give it a try... after all I had absolutely nothing to lose.

“I changed my diet, changed my lifestyle, took up meditation and bloody yoga.

“I baulked at the idea of attending a week-long OMS retreat to sit with a group of strangers with MS.

“‘Wow, this is going to be so much fun,’ I told my wife as I gave in and packed my bags for the excursion.

“Fast forward two years to the present day.

“Ever since embracing the OMS pathway, my health has never been better.

“I have had no MS relapses, I am back running with my dog and cycle most weekends with friends.

“I am confident to talk about my condition and am passionate about passing on the fantastic news that there is a lot you can do to slow down or even halt the progress of MS.”

At the lunch Tim told the audience about his “five-year dark hole”.

He said: “I didn’t know a sausage about MS, all I knew was that I didn’t want it.

“I had two relapses in 2015 but none since then and I remain fighting fit.

“My head is in the right place.

“Too many people with MS do not know about OMS.

“There is huge hope out there for people with the condition.”

James Dempster, managing director at Cobb Digital, in New England Street, Brighton, praised Tim at the lunch.

He said: “Tim is a legend – the best man you could work for – and that is shown by the number of people who have turned out to attend the fundraising event he is putting on here today.”

Linda Bloom, the wife of Albion chairman Tony Bloom, also spoke at the lunch which was attended by more than 200 guests, mainly local business people.

They included directors from Brighton and Hove Albion Football club and Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex Peter Field.

Linda is a trustee of OMS.

She said: “I was diagnosed about 15 years ago.

“I was completely in limbo and couldn’t move off the couch.

“It was a terrifying time and I was in a very dark place.

“With OMS I changed my diet, started exercise and reduced stress but there was no medication.

“I started to get better and I now feel fitter and healthier than before I was diagnosed.

“I have never forgotten how bleak and hopeless I felt with no purpose.

“Now I have a purpose – to help people with MS.”

Tony Bloom was guest speaker at the event and told guests about the club’s thrilling past season and their journey to the Premier League.