2020 means so many different things to so many people. The good parts, the bad parts, the queues outside Tesco, the homemade masks, the Thursday night doorstep claps and something that resonates with me, the sense of community where you genuinely cared and wanted to look out for the people around you.

It was in 2020 when we first properly met our neighbour, and our now friend, Jo. We had seen Jo around the neighbourhood and had noticed that there was something “wrong”. We could have never imagined that she had been diagnosed with Motor Neurons Disease. She was so young. She was so active. So healthy. How could she have MND?!

Growing up, I would never have been considered as sporty. More musical (although I sometimes reflect on this now and think this was to make me feel better because I was so bad at sports). This had a lasting affect on me and until my thirties I felt running and sports was not something I could do. After the birth of my daughter, i wanted and perhaps needed some kind of exercise that would support my physical and mental health. Running gave me that.

In turning 40 this year, I want to challenge myself to do something that I never thought would be possible. I want to run a marathon. The musical child could have never imagined this as a possibility.

To consider doing this, I wanted to make it count. I want to do this for Jo. I want to fundraise for research to find a cure. I want to fundraise to support people with MND. This cruel disease that robs people of their future. Jo was 29 when she was diagnosed with MND. She should have her future ahead of her.

For the last seven years I have run. I run for my physical and mental health in equal measures. But. I run 5 kilometres at a time. The London Marathon is 42 kilometres. This is no easy feat for me. This is a real challenge.

As I turn 40, I am so lucky to have so much in my life. My brilliant supportive husband, my two children who bring us so much joy and such incredible friends and family that fill my life with so much love and happiness. I do not want or need for anything. If you were going to buy me a present or a drink to celebrate, please don’t, please instead give that money to MND Scotland to help fund research to stop the suffering. To make the time count for those living with MND

Thank you!