Me and Emma are doing the Thames Path Ultra 100km walk from Putney to Henley. We are raising money in memory of my cousin Stewart. I’ve always wanted to take part in an event to raise money for charity. As it’s my first ever one what better way to start than an extremely difficult 100k walk.

I’m taking part to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

MND is an illness that is very close to home for me. My beloved cousin Stew was diagnosed with MND in 2013 after complaining of a pain in his leg. He always believed this to be down to a particularly painful accident he has on his bicycle on one of his many long distance rides. At an alarming rate the symptoms worsened and took away his ability to walk and began to affect his body as a whole including his speech. Towards the end he was only able to move his head from one side to the other and even that was a struggle for him. He couldn’t talk save for a revolutionary piece of equipment that allowed him to use his eyes to type sentences. Despite all of this him and his wife still allowed me to live with them so that my commute to work would be easier. I truly enjoyed being there for them both and helped where I could to look after and care for him. Stew died in 2015 at the age of 34. A part of me died that day and has never quite been the same again.

He left behind two wonderful young children. And a fantastic wife and mother.

To take part in this event and hopefully complete this challenge in his name would be one of life’s great moments. If I can raise money for people in similar positions then that’s an added bonus.

Thank you for your donation and taking the time to read.