Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is cruel beyond words. Imagine being fully conscious and mentally sharp while your body gradually shuts down around you — leaving you trapped, unable to move, speak, eat, or even breathe on your own. The mind stays alert; the body slowly and relentlessly switches off. I am fundraising in honour of my uncle Andrew, who was diagnosed with MND in August. In May 2025, he was running around a tennis court and leading community projects. Today, he struggles to breathe or sleep without respiratory support, eating has become a daily challenge, and he has lost more than two stone (>15kg) in just two months. He recently recorded his voice so he can continue communicating with friends and family as the disease progresses. Andrew has been a role model to me for as long as I can remember. He and my Aunt Sue — who, devastatingly, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s only weeks before — now need every ounce of courage and resilience to face what lies ahead. There is no cure for MND. The disease has gained prominence in recent years, with sporting figures such as Doddie Weir and, most recently, Lewis Moody being diagnosed. The Motor Neurone Disease Association funds vital research and supports families — including Andrew and ours — and they urgently need more resources.

When I asked my wife about fundraising by cycling on four continents in four months, she said:

“But cycling is easy and enjoyable for you. You’ll love seeing those places on two wheels. You need to make this much harder.”

She was, of course, right (not *always*, I should add!!!)

I’ve raced competitively for GBR at three amateur world championships and competed in time trials — so yes, the cycling is the easier part. But I’m an average-to-poor runner and an awful swimmer. So I’m taking on something far tougher: the combined distance and discipline mix of 14 Ironmans in four months — more than 4,168 km across 119 days and 17 weeks — in four corners of the world — I’ll be chasing a daily quota of:

* 440m swimming

* 20km cycling

* Nearly 5km running

I am tracking and you can see my current progress here: https://mnda.infonation.io/

I’ll be pounding London’s pavements in the dark winter, hunting down treadmills and swimming pools while travelling for work, riding outdoors and on a static bike in my shed — doing whatever it takes to stay on target.

And, to add a little logistical challenge, I’ll complete parts of each discipline across four continents: Malaysia (where I’ve already completed a race — and came 12th! — plus a run and a swim), New Zealand, Australia, and Dubai… together spelling "MNDA". The final continent and finale will take place in Santiago, Chile, in January 2026 on a 45km climb.

Please donate whatever you can to support the Motor Neurone Disease Association. And please share this. Your contribution will help fund research, drive hope, and support families living through the devastation of MND.