Pauls pushers are BACK!

A slight change of mix and a significant change of distance!

After enjoying the Leeds 10k in 2024, we decided it would be great for Paul to experience the Great North Run, his home town, famous half marathon, in September 2025!

So, whilst praying for fine weather, not to hot and not too cold, the team are going to attempt to push Paul round the course and enjoy all the sights and sounds that the GNR is renowned for!

This year the team who will run with Paul for all or part of the course are Ben and Laura (son and daughter), Barry (brother), Lucy (niece), Tim L (uni friend), Zak (honorary second son) with the support crew at various points around the run Lisa (wife), Sue and Adam (sis in law and nephew), Cal (friend) and not forgetting our very own Geordie Sue!

Paul, a medically retired consultant neurologist, was diagnosed with MND formally in Dec 2014, although he self diagnosed in the January. Previous to diagnosis he was active and enjoyed all form of physical challenges, running, swimming, cycling in addition to active holidays climbing mountains in the Lakes, kayaking in Cornwall, snorkelling in Australia. Now, as a family, on our holidays, we embrace the ‘how far can we push the wheelchair can get anywhere approach’ and explore as much as we can but clearly life has altered significantly and has its limitations! Pauls form of MND is a relatively slow progression, now 11 years on, but clearly does have massive restrictions, Paul is fully wheelchair bound, requires full time care, from his amazing team of carers or immediate family and spends his time reading, listening to the radio or enjoying sport and quiz programmes on the TV…..when everyone else is busy working!

We continue to have fantastic care from the NHS team, neurologists and the respiratory team for the ventilator. MNDA are always available for support should we need it and have supported us with a donation to the wheelchair(alongside Challenging MND) that Paul will be ‘running’ in for the GNR …… and whilst we just get on with ‘it’, grateful to all who support us and friends and family, it’s a horrible, cruel illness that impacts life more than most of you would imagine ….. there’s more about the charity below but, after my long speech above, if you are still reading :-), please give generously to this amazing charity who really do help to make life better for those suffering from the illness and their families - THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US, especially me Lisa (wife) :-)

….the photos of running included are from the Leeds 10k in 2024….to give you a view on the chair and Paul with his team!

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