YIANNI'S STORY
For over two decades, Yianni was a familiar face at the Adelaide Central Market. From 1995 to 2013, he owned and operated fruit and vegetable stalls, most notably Three Amigos. Known for his strong work ethic and warmth, the Market was more than a workplace for Yianni, it was his community. In 2013, just weeks after his 40th birthday, he was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
MS has gradually changed Yianni’s day to day life. Ongoing exhaustion, weakness, brain fog and mobility challenges including drop foot eventually meant he could no longer work. Once independent, high-energy and deeply sociable, Yianni has had to adjust to a very different reality. MS does not only affect the person diagnosed, it impacts relationships, families and the wider community around them. While the journey has been challenging, it has also revealed the compassion and support of those who have chosen to walk alongside him.
MORE ABOUT MS
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the protective covering of nerves, affecting how messages travel between the brain and the rest of the body. Symptoms can vary widely from person to person and there is currently no known cure. MS is unpredictable and can have a profound impact on daily life, not just for the person diagnosed but for everyone around them.
MS is commonly described in three types:
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Relapsing‑remitting MS (RRMS): the most common form, where symptoms come and go in episodes.
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Secondary‑progressive MS (SPMS): a later stage where symptoms steadily worsen after an initial relapsing phase.
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Primary‑progressive MS (PPMS): symptoms gradually worsen from the start without clear relapses or remissions.
Australians living with MS
Over 33,000 people in Australia live with MS. Each person’s journey is different and every step we take to raise awareness helps support them.
About three quarters of Australians with MS are female. This highlights how the condition affects men and women differently and reminds us that MS can touch anyone, anywhere.
Primary Progressive MS
Only 10–15% of people with MS have PPMS. Sharing stories like Yianni’s helps people understand the challenges of this form of MS.
Global impact
Nearly 3 million people worldwide are living with MS today. Every donation and every walk contributes to research that could help people here and around the world.
WHY WE WALK
Hi, my name is Niki and I am Yianni’s wife.
Taking part in The May 50K as team Walk With Me and Koukla is deeply personal for us. It is about raising awareness and funding for MS research, but it is also about finding a reason to keep moving even when things feel heavy.
Our biggest motivation is Koukla, our two year old golden retriever, who quite literally leads the charge. She gets us out the door, keeps us moving and reminds us every day of the simple joy of fresh air, routine and putting one foot in front of the other. Walking with her has become a way for us to stay active together and to turn something deeply personal into something hopeful.
Every step we take and every donation made helps fund vital MS research and brings us closer to better treatments and, one day, a cure.
SOCIAL MEDIA