IT'S hard to imagine when you see Ness Moseley from Pembroke Dock ride past on her motorbike dressed as an elf that three years ago she was unable to walk unaided.

Over the years numerous blood clots had resulted in damage to her legs. At 40 years old Ness weighed 23 stone and couldn’t walk.

The clots began to appear after Ness had her first baby, but now they were forming because the fat around her belly was compressing her blood vessels.

“I was predisposed to blood clots,” said Ness “Having a baby 21 years ago was just the start. However, the years of constant weight gain bought on by comfort eating, saw my weight balloon to 23 stone by the time I was 40. Support stockings and sticks helped with my lack of mobility, but I was gradually becoming immobile.”

The turning point came when Ness was having to apply for a permanent disability payment.

“I had no quality of life. There was no passion or zest.

“I sat with the forms ready to send off to claim my disability allowance when I realised that I didn’t want disability to be my life at 40, and I knew that my weight was now a massive contributor to my issues. At that moment I made the decision not to send in the disability forms, but to change my life by changing my weight.

“I began attending a Weightwatcher slimming group in Pembroke with coach Julie John.

The plan focused on healthy living, both body and mind. I discovered that most of my food issues came from life stress, childhood issues and looking for comfort. I realised I was seeking comfort in the fridge.”

As the weight shifted, Ness found a new zest for life. She threw her sticks away and began dancing again.

“The weight loss began to speed up until I had lost 110 lbs and my life changed in a way I would never have believed.

“I climbed mountains and visited beautiful places where I could once again appreciate the beauty of wildlife. I saw sparrow hawks dive, hedgehogs, foxes and white deer scurry, seals and dolphins swimming. I now own a wetsuit, bodyboard and walking boots. My zest for life was back with a passion.”

Along with her new-found love of the outdoors, Ness began motorbike riding. She set up a charity motorbike group The Three Amigos, and began organising bike rides and summer shows.

“I was walking up to 13 miles a day setting up the bike shows, which took a week to organise. We also began working with Pembrokeshire Blood Bikes, an organization that transports blood and other products between hospitals. When Blood Bikes needed a special rack and waterproof cover for the bikes so that they could transport breast milk, my stepdaughter and I did a sponsored walk across the old Roman road on Pen y Fan Mountain and raised the £200 needed for its purchase.”

Ness and the Amigos team also go out on motorbike rides to collect gifts for children. At Christmas, they do the Toy Run and at Easter they do a circuit around Pembrokeshire where donated eggs are collected for Action for Children and distributed to local hospitals.

After spending so many years over weight and in pain, at 43, Ness has thrown away the disability label for good.