I’m running a 21K half marathon to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research, in honour of my Uncle Steve, who was diagnosed with MS in 1998.

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the body attacks itself - damaging the protective covering around nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Over time, this disrupts communication within the body, affecting movement, balance, vision, energy and independence.

MS doesn’t politely “affect” someone.

MS strikes.

It struck Uncle Steve - and it hit our whole family.

Before MS, he was a bricklayer and steel fixer in the building trade - strong, physical, hands-on work that required stamina and skill. He played rugby in his younger years. He later moved into building management. He was active, capable and independent. To see how quickly MS can take over is shocking.

Over nearly three decades, we’ve watched the disease take more than anyone should ever have to give. Today, he is no longer mobile. He spends his days in bed or in his chair and relies on his wife Kim, as well as carers four times a day. The independence he once had has slowly been stripped away.

But MS doesn’t just affect the body. It impacts mental health too. Losing independence, adapting to constant change, facing uncertainty and fear - that takes an enormous emotional toll. The mental battle can be just as exhausting as the physical one.

There have also been times where we’ve been told to “let nature take its course”. Those words stay with you. They remind you how serious and relentless this disease can be.

MS doesn’t just change a body - it reshapes everyday life for everyone around you.

His wife Kim, his daughter Jemma and son-in-law Jack, and his son Jake and daughter-in-law Mel have supported him through every stage of this journey. The strength it takes to adapt, to care, and to keep going through the progression of this disease is something most people never see.

Yet Uncle Steve hasn’t just endured MS - he has fought it.

Over the years, he has taken part in clinical trials for disease-modifying drugs including Rebif and Cladribine infusions. He also trialled Tysabri but suffered an allergic reaction. He participated in research trials including Botox treatment in his legs, always in the hope of slowing progression and contributing to better understanding of the disease.

Many of these treatments suppress the immune system. For most people, catching a cold is inconvenient. When you’re immunosuppressed, it can be frightening. A simple illness isn’t simple. There is always a level of caution, and fear, that others may never have to think about.

He has lived through the evolution of MS treatment.

People like Uncle Steve helped pave the way for the treatments available today. Research matters because real families live this reality every day.

This 21K half marathon isn’t just about the miles.

It’s about funding progress.

It’s about hope.

And one day - a cure.

If you’re able to donate or share, it would mean more than you know.