Sophie Ward joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 2020 and served as a flute and saxophone player in Collingwood Band. She met her husband, Rich, in training and they married in April 2023.

After some concerns about her health last year, and some lengthy investigations, Sophie was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in January 2024, aged just 26. She has been incredibly resilient and defiant of her diagnosis, never giving up and never letting its progress get in the way of enjoying life. However, the speed of her deterioration is shocking.

I plan on running 260 kilometres in 26 days during the month of August, whilst in Edinburgh performing at the tattoo.

I will do my best to update everyone on my progress; on Facebook, my JustGiving team page and Instagram. The purpose is to generate as much awareness about Motor Neurone Disease as possible, putting funds back into the charities that help people deal with such a situation.

Sophie, and her husband Rich are good friends of mine and it hurts to see such an awful disease affect them. As you will see on the info page, no one expects this disease to affect them and it could happen to anyone. This has particularly resonated with me, following my mother’s own MND diagnosis a couple months ago, giving me all the more cause to raise funds. I will be immensely thankful for any donations people choose to give as I give my pledge to run 260km’s in 26 days, for Soph.

Members of the RMBS will be undertaking their own #26forSoph challenges. Individually, or in small teams, they will complete a challenge of 26 “somethings”.

Funds will be split between the Royal Marines Charity (RMA) (70%), Dorothy House Hospice Care (15%) and Motor Neurone Disease Association (15%)