Heywood running coach raises over £600 for charity with 24-hour run at home

A Heywood running coach has raised over £600 for charity by running the equivalent of three marathons in 24 hours – all in her own home.

Samantha Morris, 47, undertook the mammoth challenge on 18/19 April for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, running an incredible 78.79 miles in the timeframe.

She said: “I was shattered, but chuffed because I beat my previous best distance for a 24-hour event, which was 75 miles.”

Originally due to take part in the London Marathon, which has been postponed, Samantha, who has taken part in over 50 marathons, knew that many charities which rely on the 26.2-mile race would lose out on vital funding, including her charity of choice, the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

After losing her father Raymond to the disease 17 years ago, Samantha has raised money for the charity over the last five years, raising an impressive £10,000 to date.

“I was surprised at how many people don’t know about motor neurone disease, or the association, which raises much-needed funds for equipment, advice and support, and awareness of the condition,” she said.

“With so many people taking part in the London Marathon for the MND Association, they will lose so much money because you have to raise a minimum amount. I’m used to being out and I really wanted to do something to help.

“It was hard, but thinking of those who have MND gave me focus as to why I was doing it, and I also wanted to look back on the lockdown period and think that I did something to help.

“It’s so important to raise awareness of the charity and tell people about the disease, because it doesn’t discriminate.”

 

 

Motor neurone disease describes a group of diseases which affect the brain and spinal cord, attacking the nerves which control movement. It is a rapidly progressing, fatal condition, which currently does not have a cure.

Famous people who have had some form of motor neurone disease include 1930s American baseball player Lou Gehrig, theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking and actor David Niven.

The four main types of MND are amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (the most common form which can also be referred to as ‘Lou Gehrig’s disease’ with weakness and wasting in the limbs, muscle stiffness and cramps), progressive bulbar palsy (mainly affecting the muscles in the face, throat and tongue), progressive muscular atrophy (which can show as weakness or clumsiness of the hands) and primary lateral sclerosis (a rare form which mainly causes lower body weakness).

Speaking about her father’s experience with the disease, Samantha explained: “We didn’t actually know it was MND until the post-mortem, but dad had what we know now as the classic symptoms.

“It was heart-breaking and it took me a long time to come to terms with his passing. I didn’t know about the MND Association until I saw a charity shirt, even though they have been going for years.

“I decided then to do what I could in my dad’s memory, and it’s a kind of acceptance for me to try and help such an amazing charity get funding and find a cure.”

Competing numerous lengths of her living room and garden, the single mum was also spurred on from the support of her son, her “main supporter”.

Samantha will also be undertaking a metric marathon – 26.2K – which she had originally planned for 19 April. However, a back injury has so far prevented her from taking on this distance, which she plans to complete as soon as she is able to.

She will also be taking part in the London Marathon, which has been postponed to October for the first time in its history.

To support Samantha, please visit:

• www.justgiving.com/fundraising/samantha-morris180420