Martha, Jake and Martin's fundraising page for the Great North Run 2026

This September, we will be doing the Great North Run whilst pushing our Dad in his wheelchair. Here’s what crossing the finish line will mean to us.

Dad’s always been active - with his love of the gym, mountain biking trips (and falls), and setting up a local tennis club. In late 2023, he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a life-shortening condition that causes progressive muscle weakness. The news was devastating, but it took a long time to feel real for all of us. At the time, you can’t imagine what the future will look like. That one day he won't be able to walk, eat, or speak independently. You know what to expect; there is no cure. The physical progress is quite predictable in this way. It's the mental side that nothing can prepare you for.

The first year was tough, but there was a lot of distraction. Dad wrote his book of life stories, and there were more adventures to be had while his body would allow it. But there are constantly new challenges and new realities to adapt to. In the past few months alone, Dad increasingly depends on his wheelchair because his legs won't work, relies on a feeding tube for nutrients because eating is too difficult, and has been admitted to hospital after falling.

When physical decline is inevitable, you find strength in your mindset. Not only is it about learning to accept the reality of MND, but learning to cope and to keep going.

Dad finds it hard to accept help, because independence is worth fighting to keep. He still goes to the gym, but the exercise he does looks very different to how it used to. Our Mum is incredible. She’s learned how to care for Dad in so many unexpected ways, from helping to put his socks on to overcoming a phobia of needles so she can give him his jabs in the morning.

The MND Association is an amazing charity that supports people affected by motor neuron disease. Not only are they researching tirelessly for a cure, but they are helping people with MND live well today. For example, we were able to apply for a grant that went towards home adaptations and medical equipment - this kind of help allows our dad to keep living comfortably. Support goes beyond the person with the diagnosis, to those around them as well. When Martha was having a hard time coping while away at uni, she received support in the form of counselling and grants to help pay for regular trips home, which really helped.

Neither of us have ever done much running before, certainly nothing like training for a half marathon. It's so incredibly hard, physically and mentally. But it does give you an appreciation for having the physical ability to find running a struggle at all. It’s also an important reminder to just keep going when things are difficult. Not necessarily because it will get easier, but because there isn’t really another option. Like with MND, sometimes the best thing to do is just to put some music on and crack on with it.

For us, doing the Great North Run is a way to celebrate all the wins that go unnoticed when you’re living with MND. Every adaptation, every hard day got through, every bit of resilience in our family.

Thank you for reading. Please donate if you are able and help us reach our goal of £1,500 for the MNDA!

You can read more about Martin’s (Dad) story here - link https://www.mndassociation.org/our-impact/story-hub/martin

edit 11/08/26 - I like a challenge and when I got my place for the GNR early this year I pictured myself climbing out the wheelchair and carefully walking the last half kilometre. As my MND has progressed this year, wasting and weakening my legs, the target became 200 metres then 100 and now I’m hoping that just 10 metres might still be possible on the day. .. but who knows?

One thing I am sure of is how proud I’ll be of Martha and Jake for getting me to the finish line. Any donations will be very much appreciated. - Martin