"Go home and enjoy eating,drinking and walking while you can"

Imagine being told these things by a doctor, well that is exactly what happened to my father in May 2008 as he received the diagnosis of suffering from Motor Neurone Disease. The news came as a devastating blow to my father and to us as a family.  As these simple activities which we all take for granted would soon become impossible. Motor Neurone Disease is a degenerative muscle wasting condition that is usually fatal within 2-5 years of diagnosis.

My father at that time was an extremely active and fit 70 year old who walked the moors and woodlands around Devon and Somerset on a weekly basis, often covering over 6 miles of challenging terrain. His other passion was carpentry and he had turned his shed into a workshop and would spend hours making furniture and toys for his family. As you can imagine, this was devastating news for him to bear. Now he faced a future where his body would quite literally waste away before him, yet his mind would remain as active as ever. A less stronger person may well have just given up then and there; but not my father.The courage, bravery and sheer determination which he showed throughout the years he suffered with the disease was inspirational to us all as a family and to his many friends. His unshaken optimism and sense of humour was not darkened by this horrendous disease and the ever increasing hold it began to have upon him. He never gave up and carried on fighting until the end-even having a drink in a pub which he loved only a few days before he passed away on Saturday 30th October 2010. He did not let the disease get the better of him. My family and I inspired by his strong example, want to honour his memory and raise money and awareness for the two charities which were there for him when he was most in need. You do not realise how much invaluable support they provide until a time comes when you need them most.

The MND (Motor Neurone Disease) Association founded in 1979, is the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that funds and promotes global research into the disease. They are solely reliant on voluntary donations. Their mission is to give the best care, highest quality of life and the right to die with dignity for all sufferers of the disease. They offer a lifeline for sufferers and their families to help them to cope. They provide free of charge, much needed equipment such as wheelchairs, specially adapted beds and chairs to name just a few. They also provide carers to give guidance, counselling and a friendly face to help the sufferers and their families through the darkest of days.

Selfless to the end my father donated his brain and spinal tissue to the MND association in the hope that through medical research a cure will soon be found for this cruel disease.

In honour of my father’s memory and his love for the great outdoors, my family and I have chosen to trek up Mount Snowdon along one of its most challenging routes-the Watkin Path on April 30^th 2011. The climb of 3,3ooft will take us around a maximum of 8 hours from start to finish and will cover approximately 8 miles.

 We would appreciate any contribution however small, to raise as much money as we possibly can for this valuable cause and to raise awareness of the disease and the work which the MND do. We are also raising funds for the valuble HospisCare Mid Devon please see our other page for details: www.justgiving.com/hubbardfamily-snowdontrek0

Thank you for your support!