Some of you may or may not know that our Granny, Joan Duff was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in September 2008 and died last March. Not your typical 70 year old, she was the first person I ever knew to own a mobile phone, use the internet and right up until her health started to deteriorate, was still working for the Wycliffe N. Ireland team with her Husband Bob. In 1996 she ventured out to a clinic in Ghana where she used her nursing knowledge to lend a hand and give advice to the village people and help provide medications which on their own they could not afford. Throughout the next 13 years she was never without her crate of homemade marmalade in the boot of the car whose proceeds paid for the salaries of the nurses, and for the medicines for cataract operations. Granny and Granddad ventured out to Ghana as often as they could, at times up to seven months straight, right up until 2007, only one year before Granny was diagnosed with MND. The child in the picture with Granny is ‘Precious Joan’, named after her by one of the cooks in the Guest House Bob and Joan hosted.

An absolute inspiration and someone who influenced everybody she met, this running event is very poignant for the three of us.

The three of us sisters have decided that this year we will run the 10K road race in Lisburn in aid of Motor Neurone Disease Association Northern Ireland. We have set up a just giving page for anyone who may wish to donate; all money will go straight to the charity to aid research and to help those with MND and their families.

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones. Degeneration of the motor neurones leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs. MND leaves people unable to walk, talk or even feed themselves. It strips sufferers of their independence and forces them to rely on the help of others when dressing, feeding, going to the toilet and even communicating; it is a devastating and crippling disease!

The life expectancy of someone with MND is a mere 2-5 years; everyday five people in the UK die from MND. Your donation will be going directly to the Motor Neurone Disease Association which is the only national organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland dedicated to the support of people with MND and those who care for them. The MND Association is a charity working to help people with MND secure the care and support they need while funding and promoting research into the causes, treatments and cures; they rely on voluntary donations so anything and everything which you kindly donate will be greatly appreciated! :)

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.