Motor neurone disease (MND) is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting.

I lost my mother many years ago to this nasty disease and want to run in her memory and to raise money for a great cause.

#teamShirley

I am 52 years old and will be 53 when the 2026 marathon takes place. I have been a lifetime heavy smoker and drinker and have given up both to make this happen and to complete the marathon.

MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. However, not all symptoms necessarily happen to everyone, and it is unlikely they will all develop at the same time, or in any specific order.

Although there is currently no cure for MND, symptoms can be managed to help you achieve the best possible quality of life.

We need your support.

£85 could pay for an important chemical to preserve 600 tubes of cells when they are frozen

£280 could pay for a person with MND to download their banked voice

£500 could fund a tablet device, giving the ability to communicate with loved ones

£1000 could pay for detailed analysis of DNA to help us better understand the causes of the disease.