Hi Everyone,

Firstly, thankyou for visiting my fundraising page. I want to share Jojo's story and why running The Great North Run for Motor neurone disease (MND) is so close to my heart. On 7th Sept 2025 I will be completing my first ever half marathon and I couldn't have chosen a more worthy cause.

In 2021 jojo, my mums best friend, basically her third sister and pratically my second mum was diagnosed with MND. If anyone knows Jo they will understand how much of a beautiful soul she is. She has the ability to light up any room she walks into. Despite everything that MND has striped from her, she still manages to laugh and smile daily. Believe me when I tell you, when you hear her laugh you feel it in your heart.

Jo is a wife to the most devoted husband Paul and a mother to her two beautiful sons, Daniel and Matt. She is the most amazing daughter to Anne and Dennis who, sadly is no longer with us.

Jo is so dear to her family and friends but also a huge, huge inspiration to anyone who she comes across. Jojo we love you so much and I hope, by using this platform and completing this run for you, we can raise the funds to find a cure. You say it is too late for you, but to raise funds, to prevent anyone else from going through this. This is but a small fraction of your heart.

Below are a few facts about MND:

MND is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting.

MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. However, not all symptoms necessarily happen to everyone and it is unlikely they will all develop at the same time, or in any specific order.

Although there is currently no cure for MND, symptoms can be managed to help you achieve the best possible quality of life.

MND needs your support:

£120 could provide an overbed table, making it easier for someone with MND to eat, drink and read safely and comfortably in bed

£280 could fund the coordination of care for someone with MND at a Care Centre for a year

£500 could provide a tablet device with specialist communication software, allowing someone to communicate with loved ones