I may soon be unfit, I can not give up now – brave MS sufferer Olivia Kimber to make historic jockey debut

AN AMAZING dancer living with multiple sclerosis will make history by becoming the first jockey to chase the condition at Goodwood.

Brave Olivia Kimber (26) is swinging the stage for the hall when she queues in the Magnolia Cup at the July festival.

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The charity race – which was contested last year by people like Frankie Dettori’s daughter Ella – pits 12 female amateur riders against each other to raise money for charity.

For Kimber, however, there is another motivation because she knows her condition may limit what she can do in the future.

She is an impressive dancer and teacher and was diagnosed with MS last year – called the ‘invisible disease’.

The condition can affect the brain and spinal cord and cause lifelong disability.

Not determined, she immediately signed up to take part in the Qatar Goodwood showpiece, knowing that MS could be a serious obstacle in the gym and on horseback.

In one horrific incident, she had to be lifted from exercise equipment after her muscles completely tightened.

On another occasion when she was riding earlier this year, her leg suddenly became numb due to MS-induced nerve damage.

She suddenly lost all her strength.

Against this backdrop, it is incredible that she has found the inner strength to at least continue.

However, you will not know there was struggle.

One look at her Instagram and Kimber, from Portsmouth, seems to be every inch the professional rider is ready to give Hollie Doyle and Rachael Blackmore a run for their money.

Indeed, raising money for charity is the ultimate goal, but even competing in the race – and maybe just winning – is a big personal goal for Kimber.

And in doing so, she will become the first female jockey with MS in history to run.

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She told the Telegraph: “I may not be able to do it physically again, so I have to do it now while I can.

“[Being diagnosed] it was a big shock for someone who is completely fit and healthy.

“Many people give up when they do have such a diagnosis, because it becomes a little difficult to push through.

“But I can not give up.

“For me, there is a chance that my symptoms could possibly deactivate me in the future.”

Kimber already has a foot in the racing game, and buys a horse with the money from her father’s inheritance when he sadly passed away.

Graceful Magic recorded three career wins and lifetime earnings of more than £ 70,000 at the apartment for coach Eve Johnson Houghton.

While Kanohi Breeze, a two-year-old mare, formed with promise on just her second racetrack run when the runner-up at Goodwood earlier in June.

She is used to success on the track with the horses she owns.

Now Kimber can get a taste of it himself – do not bet against it.

Donate to Olivia Kimber’s Just Giving Page and watch here all the action that is going to take place at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

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