Hi I'm Mike,

Those of you who know me will be aware that one of my brothers was diagnosed with MND just over a year ago. Since then he has deteriorated very quickly and is now stuck in a wheelchair and has great difficulty with speech. He has recently been fitted with a gastric peg which means that he can be fed direct to his stomach. The good news from this is that he has put some weight (he was beginning to look very thin before). His wife Lynee has been fantastic and continues to put everything else aside apart from looking after Dave and the kids. Dave and Lynee have a four year old daughter together called Indie.

The MND Association have given great help to the family and for this reason I ran the Flora London Marathon to raise funds for them.

This is a sickening disease which leaves the sufferer stuck inside a body that won't do as its told. It is also devastating for friends and family who have to see their loved ones suffer.

Those who know me well will have an idea of just how much of an effort it took to run the Marathon. I had to learn to get off my fat arse and run almost every night.

Please donate whatever you can afford in order to help research into this disease and prevent others from suffering in the same way.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Motor Neurone Disease Association gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Many, many thanks

Mike

WEHEY!!!! It's done, and I'm still alive.

What an amazing day. Even with having run 19-20 miles once before, nothing prepared me for what lay in wait on marathon day! Weather forecast was a little misleading all week as we were expecting overcast and cool. Instead we ended up with sunny and hot!!

The first 21 miles went quite smoothly and was even 'fun'. There were thousands of people lining the route which has an amazing effect on one's motivation to keep going. From 21 onwards things became a lot more difficult. The legs try to sieze up and its a real mind over matter thing to run through it. There were three occasions where a short walk was required but I soon learnt that it hurt less to keep running than it did to stop, walk for a bit and then start running again.

The most important thing that kept me going? YOU and your generosity. I have been blown away with the reaction of everyone and want to send out my heartfelt thanks for every penny that has been donated by you all.

When things got tough, as they certainly did, the thought of those that suffer from MND and how their loved ones also suffer, made me pull myself together, stop feeling sorry for myself and get bloody on with it.

It was an amazing experience and I managed to get round in 5:01:33 just a minute and a half outside 5 hours and I don't even care that it was that close. There was no way that I could have done it any faster this year. If I ever do another marathon then at least I have something to aim for.

Thanks again to one and all.

Mikex