A YOUNG woman recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis has set herself a giant challenge.

Rowan Baker-Smith, 26, a nurse, found out she had the deteriorating condition last year.

She lives with her wife, Alex, in Peacehaven.

For the first six months after her diagnosis, Rowan said she felt at her lowest and thought she could never walk again.

But now she has signed herself up to not only one but two ultra walking challenges.

She said: “It was a real shock and I was devastated when I found out.

“I didn’t think I was ever going to walk ever again and it was really hard for Alex as well.

“For the first six months all I could think was how hard it was going to be and let it take over my life.

“But I know now it’s better to make something positive out of the situation.”

Rowan, who works at Brighton’s Royal Sussex County Hospital, said she has always been quite active.

But she has never walked the distance she has set herself for these challenges.

She will walk 50km from Crawley to Brighton on May 26 and another 100km from Eastbourne to Arundel on August 31 and September 1.

She said: “Going from being a normal 25-year-old to being diagnosed was really hard. But once I found support it became a lot less challenging.

“Having it has made me get out and do more.”

Rowan said it can be difficult to meet people with MS and she is still trying to meet more.

She said: “It’s a very isolating condition and it would be really good to meet more people that have it.

“It can also affect relationships. For a while after I was diagnosed it really felt like I was living with MS and Alex was there.

“But now it’s Alex and I are together and the MS is something there but it’s not getting in the way of us.”

Rowan is thrilled to still have her job at the hospital.

She said the hospital has been supportive and provided her with counselling.

During her walk she hopes to post pictures on Instagram, a social media site, to keep people updated.

She said: “I have found Instagram helpful because through that you find and learn how people deal with life after diagnosis. I would like to use mine to help people in my situation.”

Rowan was fundraising in Pavilion Gardens in Brighton during the weekend for MS Awareness Week, alongside her friends Emene Ben-Selma, 23, and Macaulay Dimente, 24.

You can sponsor her by searching Rowan Baker-Smith at virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser.