Meet Aimee
“I don’t go out partying – I worry about whether I can wake up and walk.”
For 20-year-old Aimee Segal, this captures what it’s like living with multiple sclerosis (MS) as a young woman. While most people her age are busy planning nights out, Aimee is focused on managing fatigue, avoiding heat, and listening to her body – every single day.
Her journey with MS began long before her diagnosis. At just seven years old, Aimee fundraised for MS Queensland through a Swimathon, never imagining that years later, she’d be living with the very condition she was trying to help fight.
On Christmas Eve 2020, when she was just 15, Aimee woke with numbness, slurred speech, and facial drooping. Hours later, she was diagnosed with MS.
“As a musical theatre performer, not being able to speak felt like losing my future,” she says. “But I could still sing – that gave me hope.”
Aimee has relapsing-remitting MS, meaning symptoms can come and go, often flaring up with stress or heat. She experiences burning heat sensitivity, extreme fatigue, and sometimes temporary speech and movement issues.
“Uni pressure or a few bad nights’ sleep can bring on a pseudo-relapse,” she says. “I’ve had to learn to slow down, ask for support, and prioritise my health.”
Despite the challenges, Aimee isn’t just surviving – she’s thriving. She’s back fundraising, studying, and preparing for her third MS Moonlight Walk, a special event that combines fun, awareness and community spirit to shine a light on the realities of living with MS.
“The Moonlight Walk is more than just a fundraiser – it’s a movement. It’s about showing people what MS really looks like and reminding everyone that, even if we look ‘fine’ on the outside, we’re carrying invisible battles every day.”
Events like the Moonlight Walk and programs like the Neuro Hub have helped Aimee feel less alone.
“They’ve connected me with others going through the same thing. That kind of support makes a world of difference.”
Her message is simple: “If you’re thinking about signing up – just do it. The walk is uplifting, inspiring and helps people like me keep moving forward.”
