EXTREME fatigue and painful muscle aches have not stopped a brave Gourock woman from raising thousands of pounds for a multiple sclerosis charity.

Determined Louise Newman has raised nearly £6,000 for MS Society Scotland after being diagnosed with the debilitating neurological condition three years ago.

The inspirational 54-year-old, who battles constantly with exhaustion and pain, now hopes to raise even more money.

She has organised her third annual fun swim at Gourock Outdoor Pool next month and hopes the people of Inverclyde will lend their support.

Louise told the Telegraph: “I hope as many people as possible will come along and support the event.

“This year people will collectively swim 2,011 lengths and the reason for that is because 2011 was the year I was diagnosed.

“The fast lane and the slow lane will both be in operation, as it’s an event for everyone of all abilities.” Fitness fanatic Louise, who formerly worked as a business studies teacher at Greenock Academy and then Clydeview, was left struggling to cope when she was diagnosed with the disease that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord.

She battled her illness in secret at first, before finally quitting her teaching post as the symptoms became too much.

Louise, who lives with her husband in Rosemount Place, said: “I have relapsing remitting MS, so the symptoms come and go, so I have good days and bad days.

“The fatigue is terrible — I can wake up after a good sleep and feel absolutely shattered plus I get aches and pains.

“I was a keen cyclist so the pain I get is similar to how my body used to feel after a long cycle.” But Louise says that fundraising has given her a new focus.

She said: “It can be emotional as you hear so many stories from people about how MS affects them and their experiences, but it is fulfiling at the same time.” The popular teacher first discovered something was wrong when she suddenly fell off her bike in April 2008.

Louise sustained a serious quadruple shoulder break and also suffered a blood clot and nerve damage from the accident.

During her months of surgery and rehabilitation, medics tested her for a series of conditions and two years later she was eventually diagnosed.

She said: “The dark days were when I was undergoing all these tests.

“I was really fit and active and MS was not on my agenda, so I thought ‘can’t they just tell me straight away if I’ve got it and give me a pill?’ “It might seem weird to say, but it was a relief when I was diagnosed.” Louise has inspired several of her friends to hold fundraising events too.

She was keen to thank Ian Loughran, who collected around £500 after organising a cycling event in Millport in June, as well as Geoff Smith from Glasgow Couriers Cycle Club, who has raised funds by holding a cycling event in Inchinnan every September.

Louise’s swim is taking place at Gourock Outdoor Pool from 5 to 7pm on Sunday 10 August.

For more information email Louise at louisenewman60@yahoo.co.uk or call her on 07707 030470.