In December 2022, my family’s life was shattered when my Dad, Michael, was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease.

My Dad was always passionate about fitness. From ranking in the top 3 schoolboy swimmers in Scotland as a teenager, to running sub 3-hour marathons and sub 80-minute half-marathons. Laterly becoming a keen cyclist and hiking all over Dumfires & Galloway undertaking bird surveys. At no point could I have imagined someone so fit and active being diagnosed with this disease.

Dad’s passion for being active has influenced how I live my life. Some of my most cherished memories have happened with Dad while we’ve been doing some form of activity together. From learning to ride my bike with Dad at my side, holding Dad’s shoulders in the swimming pool, running my first fun run with Dad and hiking to carry our first black grouse survey together.

To helplessly watch first hand, the terrible impact this disease has had on my Dad and my Mum has been truly devastating. To make matters worse, my parents were in the process of retiring when the diagnosis was confirmed.

Today, my Dad is still passionate about fitness but things are a little different. He remains active by working with his personal trainer at the gym, he continues to enjoy nature and passing this passion on to his grandson, Jasper. But sadly, this is all done from a wheelchair. Thankfully his speech hasn’t declined fully yet and so we still get to enjoy his humor and have to listen to him bore us with an extract from a book he has recently read.

Unfortunately, we know what the future holds. However, if there is one lesson this awful disease has taught me, it is to live in the moment and appreciate being in his company. Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles. It takes away today's peace.

In honour of my Dad and his passion for fitness, I will be running the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday 26th May for MND Scotland. I wish my Dad could have joined me for one last run togetther but this was not possible. Dad has been my training coach in the lead up to the race and I know he will be with me every step of the way.

MND Scotland have provided help, support and guidance during the last 16 months and will be there for us in the future.

Sponsoring me will also help MND Scotland to provide practical, financial, and emotional support to people, just like my family, affected by MND.

For my Dad, this is a marathon, not a sprint

Thank you!