Many of you know my story with MND from other challenges I have completed. My next challenge is Leeds..

My reason for running!

There are three main reasons for me choosing to run the Rob Burrows Leeds Marathon on the 10th, May 2026.

Firstly, I am a huge supporter of giving back and helping make a difference. For our MND family, team MND and the Rob Burrow’s story. In hope that one day we find a cure for this horrific disease.

Secondly, I have always wanted to personally thank the Burrows family for the awareness and support they showed to me and my family on our journey with MND.

Thirdly, in loving memory of our late mom. Who passed away from this horrific disease a few years ago.

My story!

We knew something was not right with mom’s health both physically and mentally so started to book appointments with our local GP to understand what was going on.

After a year of appointments which ruled out several other diagnosis and we finally got her diagnosis of MND including the cognitive part, through in February of 2020. To say we were shocked was an understatement as we did not know of the disease. Apart from the famous Stephen Hawkins story. The diagnosis was obtained just before we entered a global pandemic. This made our journey an incredibly difficult one under the circumstances we all faced.

I started to follow the Burrow's family’s story and found that by them sharing Rob’s story and showing awareness. It made a huge difference to me and my family through our journey. It also gave a lot of positive support for my family in the fact that we were not alone and what they were facing we were too. We were so grateful for the support from our MND consultant and MND team. So we could understand and support mom in the best way we could possibly, in the circumstances we were all in and facing. Especially with every day things like appointments being cancelled and how we get the support we need in a very difficult time globally. Even visiting with COVID restrictions was worrying and added more severity to what we needed to do. We then lost our MND consultant to the COVID ward and we knew we had a battle in our hands. We did everything in our power to get my mom the best care and support we could. By being a full time carer myself, doing a family rota system everyday, having our NHS and private carers on board to provide the care we needed. Most importantly we understood what the disease was about, each stage and what equipment we needed and what we needed to do next. Mom’s health and battle with the disease was rapid as each level hit quickly and we were shocked with how quick, MND took control. Sadly she lost her battle but I’m grateful that she passed peacefully..

I would like to say a huge thank you to our team MND, NHS and private carers. For the care you provided my mom and family.

I hope that by sharing my story of people looking after people, showing empathy, talking and taking care of each other. That this will help share some positivity, to keep pushing forward and fight through any battle we are given in life. And most importantly give back, stand proud and help raise money and awareness so other families receive the best understanding and support they can possibly receive from our MND team..

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