On Sunday I am running the Great North Run (Newcastle 1/2 marathon) with my family and friends in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MDNA). It is going to be a tough weekend, not because of the physical challenge but because of what it represents.

15 months ago my brother in law was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease at only 30 years of age. Prior to his diagnosis he completed various triathlons, an Iron Man and an ultra-marathon as he ran the length of Hadrian’s wall (70 miles). In June last year, after suffering symptoms seemingly akin to extreme fatigue, he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, at first we thought it was the “slow” variety, however it turned out to be a lot more aggressive. Within the last 15 months he has lost the ability to move anything other than his eyes, is on a full time ventilator and is basically imprisoned within his failing body. He isn’t going to make it beyond September. He is fighting daily to see his family and friends complete the Great North Run and to get to his 1st wedding anniversary. He has approached the last 15 month, despite the rapid decline in his health, with a determination and strength that has left me in awe as he has fought to get the most out of his remaining time. He has published a book raising money for Friends of The Earth, climbed (in reality crawled) 4600m of Mount Kilimanjaro raising £12k for the MNDA, raised funds for 400 children to have access to schools and uniforms in Kenya as well as writing (laboriously with eye tracking software) further books and poems and traveling to as many countries as he could whilst the airlines were willing to fly him. His bravery and determination throughout has been an inspiration to us all.

Whilst it is going to be a goodbye weekend for us as sadly his time is running out, it is also a fantastic opportunity to raise as much money as possible for the MNDA who have been amazing in supporting both David and my sister Philippa. The MNDA fund much needed research into this cruel degenerative disease which currently has no cure. You may recall the "The ice bucket challenge", the FaceBook craze of two summers ago, which was a MNDA campaign to raise awareness of this disease. Little did I know how what this would go on to mean to my family and I.

We are so proud of them both and love them dearly which is why we are supporting them via this challenge ourselves.