Anyone who knows me will know that running or exercise in general are not my natural inclinations and definitely not where my natural talents lie. Despite my best efforts at visualising giant vats of molten chocolate at the finishing line of school races, I have always been ridiculously slow (and of course came very much last). Even now when coerced into running Parkruns with the sportier members of my family, I am mercilessly over-taken by those who are fifty years older than me and worst of all parents pushing double buggies!

So why run a half marathon (13 miles / 21 km… gulp)? Well I lost my lovely dad, John Ebden, in 2016 to atypical motor neurone disease. He had been becoming increasingly unwell for over a year, being passed from doctor to doctor with no one knowing what was wrong, until he was diagnosed with atypical MND just three days before my family and I lost him. He was hilarious, very witty, warm and kind. A country boy who ended up travelling the word for his work improving transport in developing countries, he frequently would make me cry with laughter and he also had an uncanny ability to win guess-the-number-of-sweets-in-the-jar type competitions. I miss him a great deal and he was a huge inspiration for me in so many ways. 

I have since wanted to take on a challenge in his memory that really pushes me (and believe me this will really push me!) and while doing so raise some money to help prevent others from losing their loved ones to this disease. 

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. There is currently no cure for MND—let’s help change that.

That is where the Motor Neurone Disease Association comes in. They work tirelessly to improve care, raise awareness and fund research to produce effective treatments and ultimately a cure.

I would be so grateful to have your support for this half-marathon and if you are able to help me raise money to help improve treatments and find a cure, that would mean the world to me, my mother, my husband and our family.