Marking International Men’s Health Week 2025, MS Australia explores the important issue of men’s health - physical, mental, also emotional wellbeing - particularly as it pertains to the male lived experience of MS.
How do men experience MS? What is it like living with MS and being male? What is Boccia? What is MS Australia’s Lived Experience Expert Panel? How do lifestyle and support networks play a role in MS management? How can we better support the men in our lives living with MS?
In this episode, Raw Nerve co-host Jeremy Henderson, Head of Advocacy at MS Australia speaks with two ordinary Aussie blokes, Chris Brady and Alex McKay about the Paralympic sport of Boccia, MS Australia’s Lived Experience Expert Panel (LEEP) and living with multiple sclerosis. Chris and Alex, diagnosed 30 and four years ago respectively, discuss their passions and very different MS journeys, their symptoms, managing MS and day-to-day lives.
Roofing expert Alex works in the hot Queensland sun and Chris from the northern suburbs of Melbourne is hemiplegic, a form of paralysis. Together they talk about the importance of connections, support networks, finding balance, accessible spaces, transport, supports and adjustments, immersion therapy, advocacy, climate and MS and the impact of MS on their sporting endeavours and how staying physically active benefits their MS, health, and wellbeing.
With one in four people diagnosed with MS in Australia being men, this is a chance to spotlight the male experience of living with a chronic condition. The guys share many laughs, tell it like it is and provide an honest insight into their lives with MS, the challenges, joys, their personal mantras and advice from what they have learnt.
Chris Brady from Victoria is a passionate Boccia player and advocate for physical fitness and was diagnosed with MS in 2005.
Alex McKay is a small business owner from the Gold Coast in Queensland, a keen surfer and golfer, and a member of MS Australia's Lived Experience Expert Panel, the LEEP.
Hear from two guests in a candid and insightful episode spotlighting men and MS for Men’s Health Week.