My family has been hugely affected by MND. 

15 years ago we lost the lovely Jill Leadbeatter - Mum (mother-in-law), Nanny & Great Nanny, to this cruel disease. Jill died aged 69 and since then there has been very little medical progress to find treatments or a cure for MND.

Recently watching Kevin Sinfield and his friend Rob Burrows, as well as the amazing Doddie Weir (whom I had the privilege to meet just after his diagnosis) and all their inspirational and tireless work has me motivated to get involved in fund-raising and raising awareness of this cruel disease.

When I was about 20 I entered the Nottingham Half Marathon....most of which I walked having done no training......so this time, at the age of 55, it is time to do it properly! During lockdown I completed Couch-5K app based training......it didn't give me a running bug but it did get me a bit fitter!!! Then I saw Kevin Sinfield announce this marathon challenge on BBC Breakfast.....and in a moment of madness I signed up.

Please we need your support and I need your encouragement via donations!!

£120 could provide an overbed table, making it easier for someone with MND to eat, drink and read safely and comfortably in bed.

£230 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.

£750 could fund an MND expert researcher for a week.

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

This is a huge personal challenge for me - and to add some fun.......if you help me reach my target I will dye my hair blue and orange for the race and post pictures to prove it!