Two year’s ago my brother Andy was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. As a family this devastating news changed our lives forever. 

MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. It can leave people locked in a failing body unable to move, talk and eventually breathe. It kills 6 people every day in the UK, a third within 12 months of diagnosis and more than half within 2 years. It has no cure. 

As a family, we’ve found it incredibly tough coming to terms with his diagnosis and the unpredictability of what his future holds. 

Andy has done some incredible fundraising to date for the MND Association and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, raising over £120,000. Last year, with his teammates the Sandbaggers, they broke the Guinness World record playing over 34hours of continuous touch rugby, of which he took part.

Personally, I’ve really struggled to know how best to support him and his family, he has 3 young boys. Following his inspiring fundraising efforts, I’ve been trying to find something we could do together. 

Thanks to Venari Partners, Andy and I have been selected to take part in a charity challenge. Over 7days, we will trek through the desert of Jordan to the lost city of Petra along with an amazing group of people, all raising money for their chosen charities. 

Not only can we double the fundraising efforts for two charities very close to Andy’s heart but we have the opportunity to create some very special memories at the same time.

Both the MND Association and My Name'5 Doddie foundation are supporting vital research into a cure for MND and care for its sufferers. Their efforts and the advances they've made give us hope where there was none, and we want to raise as much money as possible to continue their critical work. 

Please sponsor if you can, every penny raised really could make all the difference!

Thank you!