On Sunday 27th April, I will be running the Manchester Marathon. This will be the first time I will be supporting a charity and I will be running for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND) on behalf of Harry, my neighbour, who has recently been diagnosed.

I bumped into Harry on the day that he received his diagnosis, naturally as one would expect, his head was down as he tried to come to terms with it. So I made a pact with him there and then that I would run these 26.2 miles and raise funds on his behalf, and he had to pledge he would keep his head up and fight this cruel disease.

Harry is a pillar of this village community, and he has done so much to bring people together, so it is my duty to help him raise as much as he can to help the MND team find a much-needed cure.

Please join us both on this journey and show your support as we undertake " Harry's Miles".Thank you

Motor neurone disease (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.

We need 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