Bart Campbell is a man on a mission, not just for himself, but for others too. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at a young age, Bart’s journey is truly inspirational. Today, he is not just living with MS, he is pushing the limits to show that his diagnosis does not define him.
When Bart was first diagnosed, he was working as a spare parts manager at a tractor dealership. It was a job that suited his personality as he loves working with people and has always preferred customer service roles. At the time, he did not fully understand the impact MS would have on his life. Matter of fact he didn’t tell anyone other than his wife for 12 years, nor did he seek support. Instead, he just carried on as if nothing had changed. But inside, he was struggling. His health started to decline, and his lifestyle had changed drastically.
Everything shifted though when Bart’s wife fell pregnant with their first child. In that moment Bart’s perspective shifted completely. He realised he wanted to be around for a long time and knew he had to make some serious changes. He wanted to be present and active in his child’s life. That meant doing everything he could to take control of his health. This led to Bart losing over 55 kilos and falling deeply in love with movement, especially running.
Today, Bart is an ultramarathon runner. Bart now runs distances that most of us would find hard to drive. Over the last few years, he has run up to seven ultramarathons a year, with more than 35 completed to date. He averages around 13 kilometres a day and has kept up a daily running streak for more than 860 days. On Sundays, he often runs a marathon as a casual training session…CRAZY we know. But this is a testament to Bart’s determination and resilience.
This year, Bart signed up for The May 50K, a national campaign to raise funds for MS research. While the challenge encourages people to run or walk 50 kilometres during the month of May, Bart took it a step further, literally. He set himself the goal of running 322 kilometres in one go as part of the ‘No time to Die’ Front yard Marathon, one of the toughest race formats around. It involves running a 6.7 kilometre loop every hour, on the hour, until only one runner is left standing. Bart’s personal target is to keep going for 48 hours straight and we’re backing him the whole way!
For Bart, taking part in The May 50K is more than just a physical challenge, it is personal. He is doing it on behalf of those who cannot. He has a close friend who also lives with MS and now uses a wheelchair. Her story, and the stories of others in the MS community, continue to drive Bart to push himself and raise awareness through his running.
He is also passionate about being open. His advice to others living with MS is simple “do not hide it, let people in, talk, ask for help”. “When you tuck it away, you put it in the darkness,” he says.
Bart shares much of his journey through his YouTube channel, which has become an outlet for both reflection and connection. In his videos, he talks about what it is like to live with MS, his training routine, mental health, goal setting and the ups and downs that come with pushing his limits. He also receives messages from people who say his words helped them through a hard day.
What drives him? A strong sense of purpose, and the people in his life. His wife and father-in-law are constant supporters, often crewing for him at events. Bart lives by the phrase “Better Every Day”, as he believes in making small, daily improvements. That could mean running a little further, eating a little better, or being a little kinder.
Bart is not superhuman, he is someone who made a choice to fight for his future and now inspires others to do the same. Through every run, every video, every conversation, Bart is showing the power of persistence. He is living proof that with the right mindset, we can all become better every day.
We look forward to seeing him compete in the ‘No Time To Die’ marathon this Friday at Victoria Park.
To support Bart’s May 50k, CLICK HERE.
To check out Bart’s YouTube channel CLICK HERE.