I am fundraising for a world free from MND

I never really knew what Motor Neurone Disease was, until I worked in a team called the Neurological Support team back in 2012. As a new physio, I was supporting people across the county who had a diagnosis of MND.

These people became the patients I would see frequently over the year I worked there, and I tried hard to support them during their journey, trying to make them comfortable, teaching family and loved ones how to try to alleviate pain, teaching suction for those who could no longer swallow, providing collars to support heads - maintaining airways. Teaching care givers moving and handling, sourcing stand aids, pressure relieving beds, chairs, various other aids. I was also helping to secure charitable funding for stairlifts, trying to enable someone to lead as normal a life as possible, for as long as was possible. Dealing with dying patients, scared people. It was a steep learning curve, but I learnt a lot.

I was fortunate to be sharing my office with an MNDA representative. I learnt a lot about the charity and the work they do. They spend a lot of time counselling, and signposting, raising money for some of the things I mentioned above. I learnt that 1 in 300 will sadly have this horrendous disease. That means it's likely that someone you know could have it. And it means a lot to such an individual to know they are not alone, and that there is someone there for them if they need help or advice or just a friendly voice for reassurance.

So I am taking on 15,000 steps a day this August to help beat Motor Neurone Disease. Right now, around 5,000 people in the UK are living with MND and every step I take is for them. Can you support me?

Thank you!