A couple of weeks ago Simon Martell, Head of Angel, the Specialty SME platform owned by AXA XL, posted a note on LinkedIn to update his network following his 2022 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) diagnosis.
It promoted youTalk-insurance’s Managing Director Paul Handleigh to call him and offer some help in terms of publicising a challenging charity walk Simon is taking part in next month.
Paul Handleigh said, “I’ve known Simon since the mid 1990’s when we worked together at The Independent. He’s one of the insurance industry’s genuine good guys and it’s tragic how this illness is impacting his life. The fact that Simon is undertaking this endeavour isn’t a surprise though. It’s exactly the type of thing I’d expect of him, he’s always thinking of others.”
Here’s a note from Simon
Hey everyone, in early 2022, I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS), and since then have been on a new journey to learn to deal with this and manage my condition as best I can.
I’ve had some incredible support from my family and friends, my work colleagues at Angel and AXA XL and my medical teams. It feels like I have more people looking after me than a Formula 1 driver, although my pit stops do take longer!
It’s taken time to grow my positivity with my MS, but the love, support and guidance many of you have already shown me has been incredible and encouraged me to want to do more for these good causes in and out of the workplace.
I’m so pleased to see the conversation in the working world has grown so much to recognise the talents of a diverse employee population, of course including those with visible and hidden disabilities.
It’s so important that we all do what we can to normalise these sometimes, uncomfortable conversations and find ways to recognise the contribution that those of us with any long-term conditions make to society, whether as family, colleagues or customers.
As an ex-runner, I was struggling to walk 1k at the beginning of the year and have had to find new ways to train. On the 14th September 2024 I will be attempting the MS Society UK’s London 10K Walk.
The MS Society is amazing in what they do in their research, information, advice and support and I’m doing this walk to raise awareness of MS and the MS Society and to contribute to the help that they can give to others.
Please support me in raising awareness and any sponsorship you can spare will be very greatly appreciated. And if you’d like to join me on the day that would be brilliant too! Thank you.
Click HERE for the link to my Just Giving Page