In 2015 Debbie and Joe set out to run 500k in timed events and to raise £10,000 for the MS Trust. It was a long way and a lot of money, but after 10 years of Debbie living well with Multiple Sclerosis, we wanted to say thank you to the charity that trains MS
nurses in the UK.

Our challenge saw us taking part in races all around the UK including Loch Ness, Edinburgh, around the Yorkshire Region and chasing a train through Wales, before ending the year with a 10k run in Barcelona on New Year’s Eve. By the time we crossed
the finish line for the last time in 2015, we had raced over 720km, raised awareness of the MS Trust and staying healthy with MS and, with our friends, raised over £14,500.

In 2016 Joe ran the London Marathon raising over £1000 and Debbie didn't let a broken arm stop her from running the Great North Run, raising another £1000 for the
MS Trust.

2017 saw the new challenge of the Summer Streak, where we ran at least a mile every day through July and August, incorporating some new races and old favourites. Again we were joined by like minded friends and raised another £1000. Joe has continued his streak and continues to run every day.

The surprise success of our fundraising has been the sale of our handmade Ackworth Road Runners Bobble hats; these have been so popular that the knitting machine (a.k.a Debbie's Mum) has been kept busy for over two years, changed colours for other running clubs and raised over £2000!

The running continued in 2018 with Debbie's first marathon and ultra marathons for us both. The 100km Race to the Stones Ultra in July was our biggest challenge to date, closely followed by the Loch Ness and Athens marathons. Continuing to challenge ourselves and support the MS Trust has taken our fundraising total to over £21,000.

2019 was a quieter one for Debbie, but Joe continued his running streak and tackled his first 60 mile ultra. For fundraising, Endure 24 was a great event with friends, family and colleagues sponsoring a 5 mile lap; both of us clocked up 55 miles on the hottest weekend of the year!

2020 marked 15 years since Debbie's diagnosis, so we had big ideas for races and fundraising... and then the unexpected hit and we headed for lockdown to protect Debbie due to her being more vulnerable as a result of MS. With all races cancelled, fundraising and awareness went virtual...

We held a hugely popular virtual Be Bold In Blue quiz during lockdown and  took part in the Great North Run Solo challenge (to log 40 runs before the big day) and the Virtual GNR too. Joe also completed the Hardmoors 60 miler again, followed closely by the Virtual London Marathon to complete his 100 miles for the MS
Trust in September.

2021 has seen fewer races, although Debbie & Joe completed Great North Run and the Loch Ness Marathon, adding £800 to their fundraising total, taking them close to their £20,000 target for the MS Trust before GiftAid... It was a wonderful surprise for Debbie's employers, Hermes, to donate £2,500 to take us over the target in December!

2022 was a little calmer, with crafty fundraising through the ever popular bobble hats, Easter Chicks and a new addition... Festive Gonks! Debbie also qualified as a yoga teacher, so requested donations for her early online classes. A few outings in the MS Trust colours brought to total for the year up to £400.

2023 promises to be an exciting year, with Debbie being "lucky" enough to get a place for the London Marathon in the Ackworth Road Runners club ballot and both running the Great North Run in September in the MS Trust teams. Watch out for the streaks of blue at other races too!