Hi everyone. My name's Peter Clegg, a customer service representative in motor insurance and a keen amateur runner. Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am proud to announce I am running the 2013 Bupa Great North Run to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND Association). I'm aiming to raise at least £500 for the charity, which will help the charity to fund care and research into the disease that might one day lead to a cure being found.

Early in 2010 my mother was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). Despite battling hard against the disease, taking part in clinical trials and research, she died in August 2012. MND is a progressive condition that affects the nervous system. While victims retain full control of their mind, it ravages the muscles in their legs and arms, leaving it wasted and weak, and can eventually affect breathing and swallowing. Most people diagnosed with the condition don't live beyond five years with the disease, and half of all diagnosed die within 14 months of diagnosis. It currently has no known cure.

The MND Association were fantastic in supporting my mother and family while she fought the disease, and the money raised will help the charity to fund care and research into the disease that might one day lead to a cure for this aggressive disease.

Additionally, Newcastle and this corner of the North East represents a part of my family's history that I've never visited in my life, and so it will be fantastic to take part in this great event in my late grandfather's home city, as well as raising money for a fantastic cause.

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.

You can also donate through the JustTextGiving service, by texting PCLG84 and £your chosen amount to 70070. The minimum you can donate via text is £1, but you can also donate £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10. It's really easy and it won't come out of your inclusive texts if you're on a price plan - you will only pay the cost of your donation.

All donations are currently worth double up to the value of £500, thanks to my employers agreeing to match every penny raised up to that amount! This figure will not be reflected in the final total raised until fundraising has finished. So through this campaign every donation is worth double (so £1=£2, £2=£4, and so on).

So please dig deep and donate now. Even if its just a small amount, what would help just as much would be if you can spread the word about my cause to help in the fight against a relatively unknown but deadly condition. If you can help in any way, you sir/madam are awesome!