In Memory of Stuart Hughes 1958-2009

Stuart (my Uncle) became ill in April 2009 and was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in June 2009. He was given just 5 years to live. But his health deteriorated rapidly and he died on the 9th of August 2009, aged just 50. 

Stuart was a loving, family man who would do anything for anybody. He was a "gentle giant"  and is greatly missed by his family and everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He left the world a better place for having been here.

On the day of his funeral, a few of us came up with the idea of running the Great North Run in his memory and Robert, Paula & Graham completed this on the 19th September 2010. We raised almost £1000 for MNDA.

Since then, Robert & Paula and their company (www.caraudiosupermarket.co.uk) have donated all profits from their radio decoding service to the West Yorkshire branch of MNDA. Most radio codes are only 99p and this has raised an astonishing £7266 so far and continues to raise more every month.  

Following on from the Great North Run in 2010, Robert, Paula, Kelsey & Megan volunteered at the finish line at the 2011 Great North Run and welcomed all of the MNDA runners back and directed them to the MNDA charity tent for a well earned cuppa.

I did a tandem skydive on Sunday 10th June 2012 in Hibaldstow, Lincs. We managed to get a small team together and we raised £5000 (my contribution was £600).

Robert & I ran the Great Yorkshire Run in September 2012 and then I did the Great North Run later that month.

I will be doing the Great North Run and also the Great South Run in 2013. I'm hoping to run in the MND "Mr Optimism thumb" costume.

In 2014 I did the 100k Race to the Stones and the Great North Run dressed as a Meerkat. My husband and I also started the Ice Bucket Challenge for MND in the UK and set up the highly successful text number and justgiving page. In 2015 alongside my daughter I did the Major Series, Leeds Half Marathon, Great North Run( dressed as a cheerleader) Great Yorkshire Run and abseiled down Miller's Dale Viaduct.  I have also helped out with bucket collections in cinemas and bag packs at a local supermarket as well as generating an Easter Raffle too. More events may be added to the calendar. Watch this space... I was nominated for Yorkshire Women of Achievement in the community category (although I did not win), an Institute of Fundraising Award with my husband which we did win in July 2015 and I was very proud to be crowned the ITV Fundraiser of the Year Award at the Pride if Britain Awards. In 2016 I also received a British Citizen Award for services to Volunteering and Charitible giving. 

This year 2016, I have 8 runs already booked in and also am planning to do a wing walk later in the year, so please watch this space.

2017 has been a tough year with not as much running as originally planned due to injury. I have done 2 half marathons so far with 3 more runs booked.

Thank you to everyone for your donations. It means a lot to us and I know it means a great deal to Stuart's family and everyone else who is living with this horrid disease.