Darren Moore

There was a time in my life when the future looked very different from the one I’m living today.

Being diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) was a turning point. I was told that by the time I reached 40, I could be in a wheelchair. At one point, I struggled to walk without a limp, and everyday life became a battle against pain, frustration and uncertainty. It was difficult to imagine a future where I could move freely, stay physically active or achieve the things I once took for granted.

The physical challenges were only part of the story. Mentally, I was struggling too.

Depression became a part of my life, and my weight increased to 90kg. I found myself turning to alcohol and other substances to cope with what I was experiencing. Looking back, I recognise that I was trying to manage pain and emotions that I didn’t fully understand how to deal with. Those choices weren’t the answer, but they were part of my journey, and I believe it is important to be honest about that.

At some point, I realised that although I couldn’t necessarily control my diagnosis, I could start taking responsibility for the things within my control. I didn’t wake up one morning with all the answers, and change certainly didn’t happen overnight. It started with small steps, a change in mindset and a determination to see what I might be capable of.

Rebuilding Myself, One Day at a Time

I began looking more closely at my lifestyle, my nutrition and the way I approached my physical and mental health.

I experimented with an elimination diet to better understand how different foods affected my body and focused on eating healthier, more balanced meals. Alongside this, I committed to daily mobility training, gradually building strength, improving my movement and learning to work with my body rather than constantly fighting against it.

Strength training became another important part of my routine. Eventually, I started running again.

There were setbacks, difficult days and moments when progress felt painfully slow. Living with a chronic condition means learning that improvement is rarely a straight line. Some days you can push forward; other days, simply showing up and doing what you can is an achievement in itself.

But gradually, things began to change.

I lost 20kg, going from 90kg to around 70kg, and started to feel stronger, healthier and more confident. More importantly, I began to rebuild my relationship with myself. I was no longer defined solely by my diagnosis or by the things I had been told I might never do.

I was learning that progress wasn't about proving everyone wrong. It was about discovering what was possible for me, on my terms.

I also came to understand that physical health and mental health are deeply connected. Looking after one without considering the other can leave a huge part of the picture missing.

63km Around Snowdonia: More Than a Physical Challenge.

One of the proudest moments of my journey was completing a 63km challenge around Snowdonia in just 7 hours and 15 minutes, combining cycling, walking and kayaking.

When I think back to the person who struggled to walk without limping, who had been told that a wheelchair might be part of his future, the significance of that achievement is difficult to put into words.

It wasn't simply about covering a distance or finishing within a certain time. It represented the hours of mobility work, strength training, healthier choices, perseverance and determination that had gone into rebuilding myself.

It was proof of what I had worked towards, and a reminder that a diagnosis does not have to become the entire story of your life.

I want to be clear that my experience isn't a promise that everyone with Ankylosing Spondylitis will achieve the same results. AS affects people differently, and there is no single approach that works for everyone. My journey has been about finding ways to improve my own wellbeing while continuing to live with a long-term condition.

For me, the biggest lesson has been that progress is possible, even when the starting point feels impossibly far away from where you want to be.

Finding Purpose Through Helping Others

As my own life began to change, I started thinking more about what I could do with the experiences I had gained.

I didn't want the difficult years to be something I simply moved on from. I wanted to use them to help other people, particularly young people who might be struggling with their own challenges.

This led me to volunteer with the Army Cadets and Royal Marine Cadets, where I could contribute to the development of young people through discipline, teamwork, leadership and personal development.

Completing a Physical Training Instructor course was another important milestone. It gave me an opportunity to develop my knowledge and skills further, with the aim of encouraging others to become more physically active and recognise the benefits that movement can bring to their lives.

But for me, it goes beyond physical fitness.

I believe we need to do more to help young people understand mental health before they reach crisis point. Growing up can be difficult. There are pressures around education, relationships, social media, expectations, identity and the fear of getting things wrong. Young people are often expected to navigate these challenges while still learning who they are.

I want to help create an environment where they understand that struggling doesn't make them weak, asking for help isn't a failure, and setbacks don't determine their future.

Through mentoring, volunteering and conversations about resilience and wellbeing, I hope to help young people develop the mindset and practical tools they need to cope with life's challenges.

That means teaching them that resilience isn't about pretending everything is fine. It's about recognising when things aren't fine, understanding your emotions, asking for support when you need it and finding constructive ways to move forward.

It's also about understanding that discipline doesn't mean being hard on yourself every day. Sometimes discipline means training when you can; sometimes it means resting, reflecting and recognising your limits.

The aim isn't to prepare young people for a life without difficulties. That's unrealistic. It's to help them build the confidence, self-awareness and support networks to face those difficulties when they come.

What My Journey Has Taught Me

If there is one thing I have learned, it's that you don't have to have everything figured out before you start making changes.

You don't need to transform your entire life in a week. You don't need to feel motivated every morning. And you certainly don't need to compare your progress with someone else's.

Sometimes the most important thing you can do is take one small step in the right direction and repeat it tomorrow.

For me, those steps included changing my diet, committing to daily mobility work, building strength, running, confronting my mental health struggles and finding healthier ways to cope. For someone else, the first step might be speaking to a friend, asking for professional help, going for a short walk or simply admitting that they are struggling.

Every journey looks different.

I still live with Ankylosing Spondylitis, and I don't pretend that everything is easy or that determination alone can overcome every obstacle. There are realities that come with a chronic condition, and looking after myself remains an ongoing commitment.

But I no longer see my diagnosis as the limit of what my life can become.

The experiences that once made me feel powerless have helped shape the person I am today. They have taught me empathy, patience, discipline and the importance of looking beyond what someone might be going through on the surface.

They have also given me a reason to give something back.

If sharing my story helps one young person understand their mental health a little better, encourages someone to seek help rather than suffer in silence, or inspires another person living with a long-term condition to explore what is possible for them, then telling it is worthwhile.

I was once told what my future might look like. Today, I focus on what I can do to shape it.

My journey is still ongoing. There are still goals to pursue, lessons to learn and challenges to overcome. But the purpose has become bigger than personal achievement.

I want to keep building a healthier life for myself while helping others discover the strength, confidence and resilience to build one of their own.

Because sometimes the greatest achievement isn't the distance you cover, the weight you lose or the challenge you complete.

Sometimes, it's finding a reason to keep moving forward, and then helping someone else believe they can do the same.