A BOURNEMOUTH man has taken a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis as an opportunity to live life to the full.

Dave Bunyan, 40, was told he had the Remitting Relapsing form of the progressive degenerative disorder 14 months ago, just four months after marrying his partner of 15 years, Carla.

But he still works at his job as a commercial manager for Sainsbury’s in Talbot Heath and is determined not to let the condition stand in the way of his ‘wish list’.

Dave said: “When I first heard I had MS I thought I was going to end up in a wheelchair, it knocks you for six. “I’ve got over that now because I’ve educated myself.

“It’s put life into perspective for me.

“There are certain things I want to do with my life, but in 15 or 20 years I could end up in a wheelchair and I don’t want to get to that point and not have done things, so I’m doing things now.

“While I’m doing these things, I want to raise awareness of my condition.”

On a day-to-day basis, Dave suffers from permanent pins and needles in his feet, and his feet and knees go numb if he spends too much time standing or walking.

He will also have one or two ‘episodes’ a year when he will go numb all the way from his chest down.

First on Dave’s list is a skydive, which he is doing on Saturday March 31 at an airfield in Salisbury to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

He then wants to do a bungee jump, climb Ayer’s Rock in Australia and also visit Rio.

He added: “It makes you more positive.”

Anyone who wants to sponsor Dave can do so by visiting the website justgiving.com/dave-bunyan.