Next month I will be running the Great North Run. Yes! You read that correctly... The Great North Run! A half marathon accross the fine city of Newcastle!

Those of you that know me well will probably know that I am excellent at running (a bath). And... that I will take any excuse to hang out with Mo Farah, even if I have to be chasing him, sweaty, beetroot faced and groaning, stuffing my face with jelly babies.

Why am I doing this? Because, in September 2016 a truly lovely friend of mine died from Motor Neurone Disease. David was a wonderful friend to my husband Chris over the many years since they met at university and to me when I met him years after that. I knew he was special as soon as I met him. He was the sort of friend that doesn't come along very often. We miss him so much. 

In July last year, Chris and I were so happy that David was able to be best man at our wedding. Sadly three months later he passed away. He died 16 months after he was diagnosed with MND at only 31 years old. We had envisaged many moments in our future with David and his wife Philippa. Sadly our time together was much much shorter than we imagined.

David was a very good runner and an encouraging fella, so that and the memory of his wicked, unforgettable smile will be spurring me on. Well, that and some Taylor Swift megamixes.

I said I would never be a runner, I used to struggle to even run for the bus. I used to make things up like 'My legs are too heavy for running'. When David was ill, he and Philippa climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for MNDA. It's seeing  things as inspirational as that that makes you realise you can run!

I am raising money for MNDA who support people living with MND and their families and carers. They helped David and Philippa through David's illness. I want to contribute towards more people getting that help. My raised money will also help MNDA continue their fight to find a cure for the nasty disease that took David from his many friends and family. 

Please help me to reach my target if you can.

My funds will join other funds in the name of David, under the umbrella of 2fingers2MND, a collective of friends and family who have stuck their fingers up to MND and fundraised in memory of David. The total stands at over 60k. Help me keep it soaring high like Dave. 

Thankyou x 

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