Health Hero: Carol Cooke

In water that’s warmer than 27°C, Carol Cooke loses the feeling in her hands and shins. Diagnosed in 1998 with multiple sclerosis (MS), the 48-year-old has no large intestine, has problems with her bladder and walks with the aid of a walking-stick.
Yet regardless of her physical challenges, and despite a neurologist telling her that she would never exercise again, she recently represented Australia at the World Rowing Championships. “I have MS,” she says, “MS doesn’t have me.”

Somewhere among the 12 training sessions of her week, during which she often wears a body-cooling vest to keep her core temperature stable, Cooke organises MS Australia’s 24 Hour Mega Swim. This community fundraising event has grown from local origins at Melbourne’s Fitzroy Swimming Pool into an interstate series attracting swimming clubs, recreational swimmers and former Olympians such as Michael Klim.

Money that participants raise through the swims goes towards Go For Gold scholarships for Australians with MS who, due to their disease, have been unable to follow their passions. “I like to think about what MS has given me,” Cooke says with a laugh. “Twelve years ago, I would never have dreamed of representing my country. Mega Swim wouldn’t be up and running. I like the person I am now.”

More

• Karen Fisher, making the time to help future generations

• Margaret-Anne Hayes, putting one foot in front of the other

• Chris Hopton, guardian of the waves

• Cheryl Arentz, an uplifting woman