Ipswich legend Marcus Stewart insists ‘life keeps going’ amid battle with motor neurone disease two years on from devastating diagnosis
- Marcus Stewart has spoken about his battle with motor neurone disease
- Stewart scored 19 goals as Ipswich finished fifth in the Premier League in 2001
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Ipswich Town legend Marcus Stewart has outlined his challenging approach two years after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Stewart is best known for scoring 19 goals for the Tractor Boys during the 2000–01 Premier League season.
His efforts helped the promoted side finish fifth in the table and earn a place in Europe.
The 51-year-old was diagnosed with ALS in January 2022 and announced in September of the same year.
Stewart, in conversation with Air sportsrevealed how his mindset during his playing career has helped him cope with the disappointments that come with MND.
Marcus Stewart has discussed his thinking two years after his ALS diagnosis
The ex-Ipswich Town striker was diagnosed in January 2022 and announced it in September of that year
Stewart is best known for scoring 19 goals to help Ipswich finish fifth in the Premier League
“MND lives with me, I don’t live with MND, that’s it, my life goes on,” he said.
‘During football I dealt with disappointments quite easily. I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but adversity fueled me, it wasn’t negative, and that’s how it is here.
‘There’s still a bit of a fire in my belly and rarely does the thought of what could happen with MND cross my mind.
‘You know with MND sometimes you get a disappointment, something happens to their body that means they can’t use something and that must be difficult to deal with.
“Mine is every two or three months. When I have that and something in my body stops working, it takes me two to three days to get over that disappointment, but once I do, I’m fine.”
MND is a rare and incurable condition that affects the brain and nerves, robbing patients of their ability to move, eat and ultimately breathe.
Around 5,000 adults in Britain have ALS and there is a one in 300 risk of developing the condition over the course of a person’s lifetime.
Stewart has stated that MND ‘lives with him’ and insists that ‘life goes on’
Stewart believes dealing with disappointment in his playing career helped him confront the diagnosis of ALS
Stewart raises money for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, named after former professional footballer Stephen Darby, right
Speaking to Mail Sport last year, Stewart said he had lost the grip in his left hand, forcing him to give up golf and no longer be able to tie his own shoes.
The 51-year-old said his right hand is now affected but can still continue with activities such as driving and getting cups of tea.
Stewart, who continues to work as head of player development at Yeovil Town, completed a 175-mile ‘March of the Day’ earlier this year to raise money for medical research for ALS.
Money was raised for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, named after former professional footballer Stephen Darby, who was diagnosed at the age of 29.
Stewart and his family continue to raise money through Team Stewart, with more than £370,000 raised to support the charity.
The Stewart family is raising money for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation. Visit: www.justgiving.com/team/teamstewart254