A WOMAN who had to give up work and a passion for running because of disability says she has been given a new lease of life – by a Madness concert.
Joan Ward, of Mapperley, first began struggling to get about more than 20 years ago after complications from a knee operation.
She later developed multiple sclerosis, which affects movement of her muscles, and muscle tension dysphonia – which affects her ability to speak.
Joan, 52, said she had spent years battling falling confidence until last Thursday's gig by the legendary ska band at the Capital FM Arena.
She had won two tickets through the Post's Hottest Ticket competition and later rang the paper to say the trip had changed her life.
Joan, of Kenrick Road, said: "It's the first concert I'd been to since Boy George in the mid 90s.
"Things had got worse and worse for me. It's been hard to get through and hard to understand. I do think to myself 'why me?' at times.
"But the concert made me smile again. I'd never entered a competition before but suddenly decided I wanted to go. Before I went I'd lost confidence on going out to things like this completely because I just didn't know whether I could do it – but now I know I can with my husband's help.
"It's changed my life completely."
Joan, a former marathon runner, has faced her uphill struggle since around 1990.
Her problems began after the knee operation and eight years ago she was diagnosed with osteoarthritis, which affects her joints.
Then two years ago she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease affecting nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing problems with muscle movement and vision.
Today, she relies on crutches and a wheelchair to get around and can no longer work after having to give up a job in a day nursery.
Muscle tension dysphonia has also hit her confidence as it affects the volume of her voice.
To keep her brain active she is doing a maths course at South Notts College.
And after last week's concert, Joan, who has followed Madness since they first found fame in the early 1980s, now says she feels able to get out properly, socialise and go to gigs for the first time in years.
"Suggs is coming to the Royal Concert Hall next year and I'm raring to go," she added.
"I've even been going to the local pub since the concert.
"I think it all comes down to the power of music. I was still hyper the next day."
Her husband Alan, 57, a retired scientist, has also seen the difference and went with Joan to the concert.
He said: "She loves music and she's just much more lively and positive. She's talking a lot more.
"With her disabilities it's difficult to go any distance but this has given her more determination."
