On October 2nd 2022, I will be running the London Marathon in memory of my Dad and for all the families I have met since becoming a volunteer for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. 

Dad was diagnosed with MND in August 2015 and died just over 2 years later in December 2017.  It is a devastating disease for those that live with it and heart breaking for families and loved ones. I struggle to put into words how it felt to watch as Dad gradually lost his ability to go for walks with us, to hug his grandchildren, to talk and tell jokes, to eat and enjoy a beer, and, ultimately to breathe. 

Messages from motor neurones gradually stop reaching the muscles which leads them to weaken, stiffen, and waste. Imagine not being able to move your arm to scratch an itch, not being able to sip water when you're thirsty, not being able to call for help to change sleeping position in the night. Some people also experience changes to their thinking and behaviour. It is life shortening and there is no cure, yet. 

The MND Association provides invaluable support to people living with MND and their families and funds vital research to help find a cure. Through this support, people living with MND are able to regain some independence and maintain quality of life aided by technology and specialist equipment. There is real progress being made towards it becoming a treatable disease but research is massively underfunded. Raising money for the MNDA by running 26 miles is something I can do towards changing that devastating diagnosis conversation to something more hopeful. Knowing first hand the difference your donations can make will get me across the finish line.  Please give whatever you can. I ran for the Association and the South London Branch so money raised will support research and people living with MND in South London.

Examples of how your donation, large or small, makes a difference: 

£10 funds an information pack for a newly diagnosed person with MND so they know what to expect and where to access support. 

£75 funds an MND expert researcher for half a day.

£2250 provides a text to speech device, to give someone with MND the ability to continue to communicate with their loved ones

 £4000 funds a person with MND to participate in a clinical trial for a year, bringing us closer to a cure.

Find out more at https://www.mndassociation.org