Hi Everyone,

I'm running the London Marathon 2024 for my beautiful (genuinely in every single way) friend Steph who sadly was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2022. Motor neurone disease (MND) is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting.

MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. Not all symptoms necessarily happen to everyone and it is unlikely they will all develop at the same time, or in any specific order. However sadly the symptoms for Steph took hold rapidly and her talking, eating and drinking are already incredibly limited.

I'm not normally a runner and certainly have never run anywhere near this distance so this is quite the challenge for me. Steph and I met at university at 18 years old and throughout my entire adult life she has brought me so much happiness and joy. She has always inspired me and continues to do so; seeing how she copes with MND and still faces life with such fun, optimism and grace has quite honestly changed my life. I feel privileged to have gotten a space to run in London in April and have thrown myself into training which feels like a very small thing that I can do to honor this incredibly special friend.

Although there is currently no cure for MND, symptoms can be managed to help you achieve the best possible quality of life. I'd love to raise as much money as possible to go to the MND charity which will aid in fundraising, research and improving the quality of life of those living with MND.

Thanks for reading and sponsoring. We really do appreciate every single penny.

Georgina x