Hi everyone!

The Great North Run is something that I have wanted to do for a few years after being on the sideline or finish line every year since I moved to the North East 13 years ago.

However I’m not the most athletic person and currently can’t run up the stairs so I’ve always said next year I’ll do it, and put it off for the last 10+ years!

To try and raise as much money as possible for the wonderful charity that is MND Association, I will be attempting the Great North Run with my (very athletic and gym goer) sister, and Fiona, one of my best friends. Fiona and I have been friends for coming up to 10(!) years, and I will be forever grateful that she is willing to put herself through the Great North Run (again) to help raise funds for Mum and thankful she will be there with me every step of the way! Hopefully I won’t hold her back too much and together we can beat her time of 2hrs 45!

This year is different. I have a reason to do The Great North Run and raise money for a charity that is very close to my heart and prove to myself that I can actually run 13.1 miles if I put my mind to it! Back in December 2022 our Mum was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) which came as a huge shock to us all.

Motor neuron disease (MND) is a group of neurological disorders that primarily affect the cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement, called motor neurons. It is characterised by the progressive degeneration and loss of these motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness, atrophy, and eventually paralysis. The exact cause of MND is unknown, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

There are currently 5,000 people living with MND in the UK right now, 6 people die from MND each day and 1/3 people die within a year of being diagnosed with MND. There is currently no cure for MND, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life.

Although Mum has been diagnosed with this awful disease, she is very lucky to have a loving husband who cares for her everyday and makes sure she has everything she needs at home to make her life as comfortable, easy and happy as possible. However this isn’t always the case for MND sufferers, which is where MND Assocation comes in. MND Assocation provides a range of support, such as financial support grants, equipment loan, communication aid services, wheelchairs and so much more. Without the help and support from MND Association many sufferers would struggle in their day to day life!

We would all be so grateful for any donation to help run this fantastic organisation.

Thanks!

Emma

Xx

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