Introducing: Michelle Heslop
“I want to change my perspective on what it means to have MS and to realise it doesn’t have to hold me back.”
We, the Mastering Mountains team, are thrilled to introduce Michelle, one of three Expedition Grant recipients this year. We love her courage in facing her health challenges and her care for others, and we are excited to support her as she strives for her goal. We asked Michelle a few questions:
Tell us about yourself.
I’m in my late-twenties, live in Nelson and work as a dental assistant. I love adventure in the outdoors, the challenge of this, and sharing the experience with others. After work and on weekends I enjoy running, mountain biking the local trails, climbing and tramping.
I’m a helper with a local youth group where I enjoy connecting with youth and journeying alongside them. I also help a friend with a local climbing group in Tākaka, where we teach youth how to climb, and we also explore emotional well-being. I enjoy meeting people where they are at and encouraging them in a way that’s helpful for them.
In school I really enjoyed running competitively and adventure racing for our school team. Upon leaving school, I did an outdoor adventure course where I was introduced to climbing and rafting – which I loved.
I was diagnosed with MS in 2020, when I was 23 years old. I was blessed that my diagnosis was quick – within several weeks of my first symptoms. Upon diagnosis, it was frightening because my future became uncertain, and I didn't know what would happen next. In 2020 I had three episodes close together. At first, I was in denial. However, losing feeling in one of my legs the second time forced me to acknowledge the reality of my diagnosis. My family was encouraging me to recontact the neurologist because I had more episodes, but I was still in denial. However, when I had my update with the doctor it was obvious that the MS was continuing, and I started on treatment.
I took a break from the outdoors in the years prior to my diagnosis as I moved to Auckland. Coming back to Nelson, I started mountain biking and tramping again. Currently in 2024 because of the early diagnosis and monthly treatment I can do everything I love. I do find the diagnosis emotionally challenging at times.
What does it look like living with your diagnosis?
One of my biggest challenges is managing my body temperature as heat affects my body. When I get hot, symptoms from my previous episodes flare up, which can mean muscle weakness (clumsiness) and blurred vision. To cope in the heat, I swim in cold water when possible and I have a cooling vest. I also have constant tingling in my legs that I manage with medication.
I’ve learned that nothing in life is certain, and everyone is on a journey. I’ve learned not to judge what might be going on in someone's life and now have more compassion and respect for others.
Tell us about your mission.
I’m going to undertake the challenge of a mountaineering expedition. I have always had in interest in mountaineering, and want to challenge myself with the technical elements involved. While I am an experienced tramper and competent rock climber, I plan to use the grant to help me develop technical mountaineering skills. I also want to change my perspective on what it means to have MS and to realise it doesn’t have to hold me back.
To prepare for my challenge, I plan to complete an intermediate mountaineering course and avalanche awareness course, which will mostly teach me the technical skills I need. A friend who is similarly experienced in mountaineering is going to do the expedition with me, and we will be training and building our skills together through the local Alpine Club.
Experience is also essential, so I will be doing many smaller mountaineering trips, including Cupola and Scott’s Knob, to train and maintain my snow skills. I also need to rebuild the strength in my left ankle following a recent break while rock climbing, so I will train at the gym, go tramping and start to climb again when I’m able to.
To keep me going through the training, especially during the hard times, I’ll focus on the end goal and imagine being in that special place in the outdoors.
If you could say one thing to someone with a similar condition, what would you say and why?
A mentor once told me to achieve the big and unexpected things in life by breaking them down into smaller challenges and doing something little by little. This suggestion has been deeply impactful on me and how I approach my challenges.
Thank you
Mastering Mountains would like to offer a huge thank you to our sponsors for making this grant possible:
The North Face Explore Fund for funding the grant and supplying clothing;
MitoQ for a supply of their antioxidant supplement;
Rab for supplying an emergency shelter;
Southern Approach for supplying equipment.