Dear Friends,

After dragging my broken body around the London Marathon in 2010 I'm now sitting here wondering how on earth I'm going to explain this one away! I'd be grateful if you could stick with me as it's a story that matters to me enormously.

The 'why'

You'll have detected that the photo on this page isn't actually me; it is in fact my Mum - Cathy - as a young nurse back in 1972. A somewhat more photogenic snap than one of me in my running lycras!

She was tragically taken from us 10 years ago this year following a battle against Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Cathy was a very special person who inspired all of us who were privileged to know her. She loved all her family and friends dearly, and lived life to the full with energy and humour. One of her personal mantras was to try to have a new experience every day.

She spent all of her working life in the NHS, initially as a nurse, then a midwife, followed by climbing up the rungs of management before becoming an executive director in (the former) Leicestershire Strategic Health Authority. Her contributions were marked with a devotion to the needs of patients, along with courage and creativity in grappling with the complexities of a rapidly evolving health service.

Following her diagnosis in 2001, she responded with characteristic bravery in deciding to make the most of what time she had left. She continued her work in the NHS, which included finding a new role as a mentor, helping many who were making the difficult transition from clinical work to management. She was also a voracious fundraiser for the MNDA and one of my last and fondest memories was Cathy, my brother Andrew, my wife Emma, my Aunt Glenys and myself sailing the Atlantic Ocean on a Tall Ship only a matter of months before she died.

Suffice to say she leaves a yawning chasm of a gap in all of our lives. She would, however, take great delight in knowing that she lives on in the spirit and love-for-life exhibited by her 4 amazing grandchildren - Finn, Elodie, Dylan and Hettie.

The 'what'

There are a multitude of horrific diseases out there but not many that rival MND. It's a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the motor neurones leading to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing. In essence it lays waste to peoples' bodies at the peak of their lives whilst leaving their brains intact. Needless to say it's an unfathomably cruel way to go.

The 'what are we going to do about it?'

My family and I are determined to see a cure for this disease. In order to raise much needed funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, I'm about to embark on 10 challenges in 2013 (with some help) and would welcome any support that you can offer.

1) I'm running 100km (62 miles!) from London to Brighton (25th May). COMPLETED IN 18 HOURS 40 MINUTES

2) I'm doing the London Triathlon Olympic Distance (28th July). COMPLETED (JUST ABOUT!) IN 3 HOURS 26 MINUTES 46 SECONDS

3) My brother (Andrew) and I are doing the Three Peaks Challenge (30th August). COMPLETED IN AROUND 25 HOURS

4) I'm cycling the 'Ride of Champions' - the Olympic road cycling route (9th June): COMPLETED IN 9:05:10

5) The Kingston Breakfast run -16 miler (24th March): COMPLETED IN 2:10:47

6) The Great North Run (15th September): COMPLETED IN 1:48:32

7) The 10k British Road Race (14th July): COMPLETED IN 49:02

8) Windsor Half Marathon (29th September): COMPLETED IN 1:58:04

9) Royal Parks Half Marathon (6th October): COMPLETED IN 1:46:09

10) The GRIM Challenge Aldershot - essentially running through mud for 8 miles (1st December): COMPLETED IN 1:14:02

Obviously all of this is hypothetical at this stage seeing as I've never swam more than 20 lengths of the pool, never cycled further than about 10 miles, and only dragged myself around one marathon!

Thank you in advance for your help and any contribution you can make towards fulfilling this mission.

Rob