My name is Colin Moss - I have Motor Neurone Disease (MND). My friend Tony Vines is a keen distance runner and despite exceeding 60 years of age, still runs marathons in remarkable times. Tony & I played football for the same team at Southern League (semi-pro level) in the mid-seventies. 

Tony very kindly agreed to use his run in the Loch Ness Marathon  to help raise funds for the North Wilts Branch of the MND Association. This was despite normally running to support Child Autism as his grandson Charles is affected by it. 

All the sponsorship funds raised will be used to support people living with MND by providing timely financial aid towards vital equipment  to aid their daily living and maintain independence as long as possible.  The aim is to help fund items such as: stair & through-floor lifts, wet-room conversions for wheelchair use, wash/dry toilets, etc.

Life expectancy for people with MND is usually between 6 months and 5 years. I was diagnosed 14 years ago at the age of 51. so am one of the luckier ones (only around 10% survive over 10 years with it).  Up 'til a year before my diagnosis, I had been very fit too and had only retired from football at the age of 48.

MND is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones (nerves) in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting. MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. MND has meant that I can no longer walk and can no longer write. My mobility, speech, swallowing and breathing have all been affected too.

Although the Ice-bucket challenge has raised much needed funds and awareness of MND. There is no cure nor anything to extend life expectancy.

Tony has run 47 half marathons since 2009 with a PB of 1hr 33 min. He has completed 5 full marathons London twice Loch Ness 3 times. His PB for a full marathon is 3 hrs 35 min at Loch Ness finishing 3rd for his age group . Last year Tony did 12 half Marathons and 2 Marathons winning two races (in his age group) Marlow and Downton . This year he aims to do the same amount of races health permitting..His typical training regime is two 7 mile runs in the week and a long run on a Sunday between 16 and 22 miles .

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