My incredible, intelligent, resilient dad has very recently been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

It has rocked our little world. My dad has always been the head of our small family: not always much of a cuddler (until recently!), he’s demonstrated his love and affection through doing things for others, whether it be getting up at 4am to take me swimming three times a week throughout my teenage years, picking me (and all my friends) up at ungodly hours for decades, or dropping everything to help me with any house issue I’ve encountered. To be experiencing a physical struggle that means that myself and others have to help him for a change, I know is incredibly difficult for him.

When my dad received his diagnosis, it made me feel somewhat helpless. There is currently no cure, and the path ahead for both my dad and for us as a family is intimidating in its uncertainty. Raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease and raising money to fund research to create an MND free world makes me feel like I am doing something to help.

Despite having spent a lifetime participating in sport, the marathon is huge challenge for me, and something I thought I would never complete. I want something good to come out of an incredibly difficult situation, and I want to make my dad proud. For my entire life, we have bonded through my sporting endeavours; he has given me endless support, and I know it brings him joy to watch me compete.

I hope the money I raise can contribute towards making the life of my dad, and anyone else living with the disease, better. £120 could provide an overbed table, making it easier for someone with MND to eat, drink and read safely and comfortably in bed; £280 could fund the coordination of care for someone with MND at a Care Centre for a year; £500 could provide a tablet device with specialist communication software, allowing someone to communicate with loved ones.

I appreciate that times are tough financially for everyone, but even if you can give just a little, it would mean the absolute world to me, and my family.

Thank you.

A note from the MND Association: Every penny raised from The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon will bring us closer to achieving our ultimate mission; a world free from MND.