Whilst I was a shamefully reluctant addition to the London Marathon, the thought of the difference we could make in the fight against MND is enough to propel me, not only to run but, to raise a significant and I hope life-changing amount for the MND Association.

MND is a progressive disease that attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord, leading to severe muscle wastage - affecting how you walk, talk, eat, drink and eventually, breathe. It is an unbelievably cruel disease - but - with the right funding and optimism, we are looking at a world, in our lifetime, where MND could be extinct. To be a part of this mission is an unbelievable privilege and I hope you will join me in playing a role in eradicating this disease - please see below for some examples of the difference YOU could make.

£50 could help towards the running costs of a place on a clinical trial for a month

£85 could buy software to enable someone to bank their own voice

£280 could fund the co-ordination of care for a person with MND at a care centre for a year

£500 could fund a tablet device with communication software giving the ability to communicate with loved ones

£1000 could pay for detailed analysis of the DNA of someone with MND to help us better understand the causes of the disease

£5000 funds one year of advanced data processing and storage for research projects helping us get closer to a cure

I am hugely grateful to have been given this opportunity by The Broad Appeal - set up by Chris, Stuart and Gemma Broad to help research Motor Neurone Disease after Chris sadly lost his wife Miche to the illness in July 2010. All funds raised will be directly sent to the MNDA to fund research.

A world free from MND is ever closer. However big or small, any contribution is appreciated.