When I heard that my friend had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) my fourth thought was ‘Oh God, now I’m going to have to run the marathon.’
Obviously my first and second thoughts were for Catherine and her family. A life cut short, the loss of a partner, a mother, etc, etc.
Catherine’s diagnosis came on top of the loss of another friend to MND. Sheila was only diagnosed shortly before she died so wasn’t able to access the help and support that is now available at the Rob Burrow Centre and that is supporting Catherine and her family.
My third thought was ‘what can I do to help?’ Apart from the fact that I live on the other side of the city, Catherine has a great support network around her, so it wasn’t going be anything practical. Having said that if she wants a vegetarian chilli bringing over or help with dog walks she only has to ask.
Which brings me to the marathon.
I am a runner. I enter races every year, I go to parkrun, I’m a member of South Leeds Lakers, but I have always said I wouldn’t run a marathon.
I didn’t feel I needed to. My long-term running goal isn’t to run further, but to keep running into old age. On my first half marathon in 2000 I saw an old Sikh runner who looked to be about 80 years old. I decided then that I wanted to be still running half marathons aged 80. I’ve got to 65 and my next half marathon race is on 12 April.
There are other reasons for me not to enter the Leeds Rob Burrow Marathon. I much prefer trails to road running, I don’t like big events, or crowds (probably something to do with undiagnosed autism). But then I saw Kevin Sinfield’s latest effort running 7 ultramarathons in 7 days last December for MND and I thought if he can put himself through that, then surely I can run one marathon. And because I’m running for MND it has to be the Rob Burrow marathon.
So I entered the marathon in December. It takes place on Sunday 10 May 2026. I’ve set myself a target of raising £1,000 for MND and I’m asking everyone I know – including you dear reader – to help me.
The money raised will go to supporting people living with MND like Catherine and to research into finding a cure. For example, £700 could fund one month’s lab equipment and consumables for a PhD student working on vital MND research in the search for a cure; £945 could help someone whose muscles are weakened by MND to stand up more safely, and sit and rest more comfortably by funding a riser recliner chair.
MND is a cruel degenerative disease and there’s no cure so far – it is a terminal illness.
The profile of the disease has been raised by sportspeople like Rob Burrow and Dodie Weir, but it can strike anyone. To the best of my knowledge neither Catherine nor Sheila ever played rugby, or headed a football.
I started training properly in January with four runs per week – a long slow run, a pace run and two more training runs, plus a session at the gym with weights to help avoid injury. There are now eight weeks to go, my long run tomorrow will be 26 km. I’m on track and more or less injury free so far.
I have a target of finishing in four and a half hours, but my real target is just to finish and raise £1,000.
I realise that to some extent I’m abusing my power as Editor to put this in front of you, but it’s for a very good cause, so I’m going to ask you – will you help me raise £1,000?
If you want to and can afford to please visit my fundraising page at: www.justgiving.com/page/jeremy-morton-2
No matter how big or small, every donation matters. Thank you.
Photo: With my training partner Floss
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
