We are Annie, Eliza, Max & Charlie and this is our team’s story for why we are taking on the Great North Run 2025 🧡

September 2024, our family received the devastating news that John, our step-dad (in law) had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. John is 44; he is a father, a husband, a friend, a family member, colleague & unfortunately for him at the moment, a Gillingham FC fan.

Nothing in life can prepare you for the heartbreak of finding out there is no cure for MND. There are limited treatments that can help reduce the impact it has on a person's daily life, but not to prolong it.

A diagnosis of MND comes with so many questions yet so few answers.

Our mission is to raise the all important funds needed to assist those living with MND, their loved ones and research into finding a cure.

Along the way we hope we can educate people about MND, we had very little knowledge of this awful disease including the fact there are no known reasons as to why people get MND, meaning it could affect any one of us or our loved ones. This has to change.

To start this fundraising journey we will be taking part in the Great North Run in September 2025. Anyone who knows us knows we are not runners so it will be a physical challenge, but nothing compared to what those living with MND face on a daily basis.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story, any donations will be greatly appreciated and no matter how big or small will go directly to MNDA in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease.

A bit about Motor Neurone Disease:

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.

We need your support.

£85 could buy software to enable someone to bank their own voice

£160 will buy a specialist communication app enabling someone who has lost the ability to speak to continue to communicate with others

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

£600 could provide a child affected by MND with eight professional counselling sessions