First diagnosed in 2009, Gilbert Robert Penny sadly passed away from PSP in 2014 at the age of 70.  He was a loved member of the family - always the joker and a lover of all things fun (including a flutter on  the horses every now and then :-)).

This is a cruel condition that slowly strips away the ability to function normally, shutting down muscles to the point that communication, movement and independent living becomes impossible. 

Luckily for us, the children were still young when he was first diagnosed and took the deterioration in their stride - "it was just grandad". That said, there were still moments where we had to face difficult conversations. As time progresses, their memories of him fade - and my wife and I still grieve for the grandfather they never really got to know.

Anyone who has seen a loved one succumb to the condition will know just how crippling it is.  I hope that this small charity raising effort will help (when combined with all of the others running the London Marathon in aid of PSPA) to make the lives of those suffering better and provide much needed support for their loved ones in a time of great difficulty.

It's my first ever marathon - and right now, I have no idea how I'm going to make it around in one piece! Emma and I would really appreciate any donation that you wish to make.  Thank you! :-)

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PSPA is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the lives of people living with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Corticobasal Degeneration (CBD). We provide information and support for people affected by PSP & CBD whilst funding research into the causes, treatment, and eventually a cure. Together we can stop PSP & CBD in their tracks.