Sam Perkins: The triathlete diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease

Published: Oct. 14, 2020, 4 a.m.

Go back two years and Sam Perkins was training for a middle distance triathlon. Just a few years before that, Sam had caught the triathlon bug and ditched his unhealthy lifestyle. But in 2019, at the age of 37, Sam was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. He's wheelchair bound and needs a machine to help him breathe. According to statistics, there's a 50% chance that he has 5 months left to live. Despite that, Sam maintains the most wonderful sense of humour and outlook on life and he's doing everything in his power to raise awareness of MND and help to raise vital funds for research into a cure, through the charity he has set up SAM (Stand Against Motor Neurone Disease) You'll hear: 05:37 How Sam turned his life around after through triathlon, after being unhealthy in his 20s 14:52 Sam explains the first signs he started to notice that something wasn't quite right 37:15 Sam talks about the process of voice banking, so he can be prepared if and when the time comes that Motor Neurone Disease means he can no longer talk on his own 40:00 Sam talks about the charity, SAM (Stand Against Motor Neurone Disease) he has set up and the children's book he has written, called Lily and Sam, about a little girl Lily, whose Uncle Sam has MND. You can buy it here Tri Sharing wisdom 53:33 This week's Tri Sharing Wisdom comes from Catherine Hilton. If you have a tip to share, then get in touch with Helen or contact Inside Tri Show on social media. Find out more about this week's guest - Sam Perkins Sam Perkins and Stand Against MND's fundraising page on Facebook Sam Perkins Twitter Stand Against MND's Fundraising Justgiving page Sam's book - Lily and Sam on amazon Like what you heard? Let me know! Connect with Inside Tri Show across Social Media, just search Inside Tri Show or click on the icons below GET YOUR HANDS ON AN EXCLUSIVE EPISODE! Sign up to be a vino buddy or a training buddy on Patreon and get your hands on the latest patrons-only exclusive episode, including a wonderful interview with Rosie Swale Pope PLUS unheard snippets with Joanna Rowsell and Hannah Grant. You can still support me and support the show by clicking here to buy me a coffee every so often by becoming a Patron of the Inside Tri Show. Show sponsors LONG RANGE FUEL Long Range Fuel is a phenomenally tasty nut butter, enhanced by cutting edge science, to boost your stamina, keep you calm and alert and bolster your resilience. Get 10% off by using the code insidetri10 or go direct via this link. Supporters of the show 33 Fuel – natural and very yummy sports nutrition. They are shipping as usual, so grab some of their daily Greens, fill your boots with delicious natural, nutty Italian style energy bars and Use the code INSIDETRI33 for a discount at checkout at www.33fuel.com. Komfuel Like a pic' n mix of sports nutrition through your letterbox! Listeners can get 20% off all orders or advance sweat tests using the code: INSIDETRI at www.komfuel.co.uk Find out more about Helen Head over to Helen's website to find out more about her. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices