Plasma helps Clive make the most of now

Clive Phillips has never been one to give up when the going gets tough.

He's a veteran of the British Army and has served in Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Since moving to New Zealand in 2010, he's led disaster responses here and in Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and has even worked in Antarctica.

But one of Clive's greatest challenges began in 2013, when he noticed a slow loss of strength and motor function in the left side of his body.

Over the next six years, Clive's symptoms intensified to the point where he couldn't give a thumbs-up anymore. Finally, in 2019, he began to seek answers – and after nine months of medical tests, he finally got them.

Clive was diagnosed with Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN), an acquired autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your motor nerves and causes progressive muscle weakness.

The first line of treatment for MMN is intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment. Clive was put on this treatment plan and began to receive plasma-derived infusions to target inflammation and support his immune system.

Almost overnight, he noticed his motor function returning - and three days after his first treatment, he turned to his wife, Ann, and gave her a thumbs-up for the first time in 12 months.

As plasma began to give Clive his strength back, he developed a new philosophy: he became a fervent believer in 'Making the Most of Now'. In 2021, he established a social enterprise of the same name to raise awareness and funds for MMN and other rare diseases.

But for Clive, who had a series of extraordinary adventures under his belt already, it wasn't enough to just advocate from a seat of comfort; he wanted to get out there and prove how far resilience and the right attitude could take someone.

So, drawing upon his love for cycling, he began a series of events called 'Ride for MMN'. His biggest ride yet was in 2025, when he retraced the 1995 Tour de France route with a group of friends, fellow veterans, and other members of the rare disease community.

The ride lasted 25 days, pushing Clive to his absolute limit. He documented this journey called No One Rides Alone to continue raising funds and awareness for MMN. And at the same time, he highlighted the transformative impact of plasma donations for people in need.

Clive's wife Ann has gone on to donate plasma herself, knowing the incredible impact it's had on her husband's life.

And as for Clive, he still lives with the impact of MMN, but his plasma-derived immunoglobulin treatments keep the worst at bay, helping him in his quest to make the most of now.