A Shepton Mallet man is sharing his story of living with multiple sclerosis (MS) after admitting pride stopped him from opening up about the condition for years.

Stewart Gould, 78, who lives in Shepton Mallet, was diagnosed with progressive MS at 61 after years of unexplained symptoms. Now Stewart, who uses a stick to help with his balance, is backing a national campaign to get more people talking about MS.

Speaking as part of MS Awareness Week, Stewart said: "When I was first diagnosed with MS I didn't like to talk about it. But then one day I was on holiday in India, and had to explain why I was having so much trouble getting in and out of a jeep. That broke the ice, and after that I realised I had to start talking about it.

"Opening up about MS is not as difficult as it seems, my advice is to bite the bullet and do it. It's a daunting prospect telling people you're not perfect. Pride is a big obstacle, and you worry how people's perceptions of you will change. But in 99% of cases, finding out you have MS will never change how someone sees you. And if it does, then they're not the person you thought they were."

Stewart is backing MS Conversations, a new campaign led by eight of the UK's biggest MS charities. It aims to encourage more open conversations about the condition, which affects over 150,000 people across the UK – including an estimated 12,000 in the South West.

He said: "MS conversations vary a lot. Some people have no idea at all what MS is, and some get it confused with other conditions. Awareness is quite limited, and it can be a confusing condition because it varies so much from person to person.

"Having conversations about MS is hugely beneficial as it really does help inform people. I think it's really positive for people to see someone like me who's 78, but is still active and isn't letting MS stop me from doing the things I love."

Stewart, who is retired from his woodworking business, now enjoys beekeeping in his spare time.

Throughout MS Awareness Week, charities are sharing resources to help people start conversations about life with MS. They are also encouraging the public to get involved online using the hashtag #MSConversations.

George Pepper, CEO of Shift.ms, said: "Hearing the words 'You have MS' can be earth-shattering, but for so many MSers it's not just one difficult conversation and then life continues on. It's the start of lots of difficult conversations."

Amy Woolf, Chief Executive of MS-UK, added: "Starting a conversation about your MS can feel daunting, and it's all too easy to feel isolated as a result. But the more those around you understand how MS affects you personally, the more awareness we can build – not just for yourself, but for the entire MS community."

MS Awareness Week runs until Saturday 4 May.