In May 2026 I am running the Leeds Half Marathon to raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

My motivation for this is deeply personal. My cousin Raj has recently been diagnosed with MND and as well as being a shock to us all it's hard to fathom that even with all the technology we have today, this is still a disease without cure. This has been the hardest thing for us all to digest, especially our older generation of Indian parents who can't believe he will not get better. He has had great support from charities and has devices such as the text to speech device to make him as comfortable as can be at his stage. The device has captured his voice which will always give us memories of him. My target fundraising goal is £2000 which will provide someone else living through MND with one of these devices.

A bit about Raj...he has always been the happy-go-lucky person in the family who is always there for everyone including his wife and daughter! He would be the first one on the dancefloor with his glass of Baileys singing his heart out. I have had the privilege to grow up with him and always lean on him for advice although his amazing DIY skills and knowledge didn't transpose to me! It's now tough to see him bound to his chair sat in front of the TV for most of his day. I have seen his condition deteriorate significantly in a year so I want to do all I can to support this amazing charity and hope that one day in the near future there is a cure for this disease.

MND doesn't just affect the person diagnosed but it affects everyone who loves them. Every donation, no matter how small, will help make a difference for families who are going through what we are.

Thank you in advance!