Story
Within the last week, Olly Joynson (Amelias dad) was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.
Olly is only 40 and has 2 daughters Amelia (7) (my partners daughter) and Willow (1)
Basic facts about MND:
With MND, messages from the motor neurones gradually stop reaching the muscles. This leads the muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste. MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. Some people also experience changes to their thinking and behaviour. However, MND affects everyone differently. Not all symptoms will affect everyone, or in the same order. Symptoms also progress at varying speeds, which makes the course of the disease difficult to predict.
MND is life-shortening and there is no cure. Although the disease will progress, symptoms can be managed to help achieve the best possible quality of life.
Since Ollys diagnosis the Joynson family have set up a crowd funding page. The crowdfunding will help Olly and family make essential adaptions to assist Olly as his condition progresses, it will also allow the family to make some special memories by completing trips and experiences, before Olly becomes unable. All with minimal impact and financial burden.
With this in mind and the emotional affect it has had on me, knowing that there are events and experiences that Amelia and Willow will miss out on, things that alot of us take for granted whilst growing up. I have decided to in someway try and support the family.
To do this, i have come up with the SUPChallenge24. This challenge involves Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) for a constant 24 hours and covering a distance of 100km on the Grand Union Canal.
The event is planned for early May 2020, i will confirm the exact date in the coming weeks.
Proceeds raised in the form of sponsorship for this challenge will be donated to the Joynson families crowdfunding page, with 10% of the total raised also being donated to The MND Association.
I have set up a Facebook and Instagram page both called SUPChallenge24, so everyone can join me on this journey, through the planning, training and event itself.
Please can i ask whatever you can afford, you all dig deep and donate what you can. Understanding not everyone has the means to make financial donations, please follow the social media and encourage me with your support and join me on my journey!
Thanks in advance for all your generosity!!!
Nick Devenney (SUPChallenge24)
