In May 2024, my amazing mum, Catherine Mitchell, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND, often known as ALS in other countries). This devastating news rocked our family, changing our lives forever. Just a month later, my friend Tom Davies - one of the kindest, loveliest guys you could ever meet - was also diagnosed with MND.

MND is an aggressive and unforgiving illness. It gradually takes away muscle strength, speech, and the ability to eat, and ultimately, it is life-ending. There is currently no treatment or cure. It can affect anyone of all ages and does not discriminate in how challenging it is to live with.

Despite this, I am constantly in awe of my mum and Tom’s strength in the face of such difficult diagnoses. Inspired by them, a group of friends and I will be running the 2025 Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon as our way of “fighting back” against MND. We are raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), a fantastic charity that provides essential support to those living with MND and their loved ones, while also funding vital research into finding a treatment or cure.

Last year, just one week after her diagnosis, my mum and I stood together on the start line of the Leeds Marathon alongside Rob Burrow and his incredible family. This year, I am determined to finish it – this time seeing my mum waiting for me at the end.

This will also be the first Rob Burrow Marathon since his passing last year. I will be joining thousands of others running in his honour. Rob is a legend to everyone affected by MND, and I hope this day will be a fitting tribute to his extraordinary life and achievements.

I've never run a marathon before, so this will be a huge challenge. But every step will be for my mum, for Tom, for Rob, and for everyone impacted by MND. Any donation, no matter how small, will mean the world to me and help drive me forward.

Before the marathon, I’ll also be running the Sheffield Half Marathon and the Monsal Trail Half Marathon in March and April, proudly representing MNDA.

Thank you all for your support—it truly means the world to me and my family.