Hey guys my name is Georgia and I’ve chosen to run The Great North Run 2026 raising vital funds for MNDA in memory of my mum Debbie Gray.

Furthest I’ve ever ran: 10k. However, as my friends keep telling me this challenge is just a 10k, then another one and then just a little bit more🫣 so here goes nothing…

Little back story: back in 2020 in the midst of covid my mum developed a slur in her speech, after contacting the doctors they said to keep an eye on it and contact them again if things didn’t improve. A week went by and we could only describe the symptoms worsening, mum started to feel weak in one side of her body and the slurred speech was becoming more apparent so after a trip to the doctors they referred mum for a brain scan. Mum had the brain scan which gave concerning results and was sent for even further scans, bloods taken and attended neurology appointments. 27th of August 2020, 6 months after many meltdowns, hospital appointments, scans and whatever else we finally got a diagnosis of motor neurone disease. Something we didn’t know much about at the time but boyyyy we do now. Honestly the cruelest and most brutal disease with no reason why.

Mums symptoms worsened throughout the months meaning that myself and my sister became her carers, quitting work and providing care for the woman who meant the most to us, the simplest of tasks such as getting dressed, brushing her hair, and a few months down the line just having a conversation, meaning we had to become her voice - mum lost her speech quite early on into the diagnosis meaning that we communicated with her through her voice banking app which we are ever so grateful for, something that MNDA provided us knowledge about alongside feeding mum/giving medication through her PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) tube as she became nil by mouth. Many long drawn out months went by with mum losing the ability to walk, talk and lots of lessons learnt she sadly lost her battle to MND on the 30th of November 2021 just 16 months after her diagnosis.

The reason I want run The Great North Run is obviously for my mum because she will ALWAYS be my reason but also to raise vital funds for MNDA as it is a charity that is so underfunded but provide SO much help to people and families like ourselves and helped us along the way.

I know this isn’t going to be easy and the grief that comes with trying to raise money for a charity because of how we lost my mum. Gulp🥹 But, my mums experience has been my BIGGEST lesson in life so far, it was a lot for my 24 year old self to take on but it’s made me a stronger person and shown me that I am capable of so much more than I think I am so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me along this journey whether that’s a donation, a share or just general support it all means so much. Finally, I’d just like to thank my girls for ALWAYS being there; helping me through the shit storm moments, surrounding me with comfort and laughter and just keeping me going in general - I really don’t know what I would do without you both then and now. You are the BEST. (That means I’m counting on you all to be at the finish line with a crisp pint in your hands ready for me to guzzle)

If you’ve read this far then thank you 🙌🏼 keep your eyes peeled for updates and sit tightly mama bear, this one’s for you. Let’s get this show on the road💓

Love from, Georgia Xx