On Sunday 16th October, Catalyst will donn snazzy blue bibs, limber a few lunges and tackle the 13.1 miles of the Great Birmingham Run amongst 20,000 other runners. It’s the second time Catalyst partakes in this half marathon. Last year we raised £1,787.05 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, a whopping 229% of our target. This year we aim even higher with a bigger team to support this worthy cause that holds special significance for Managing Director, Joe Birkedale.
Joe’s mother-in-law Joy was diagnosed with the disease in October 2014 and sadly passed away last January. Collectively, we have decided to once again dust off our running shoes and extend our support in memory of Joy.
Joe comments: “Running is hard. Especially when you’re 15st, 6ft tall and unfit. But as hard as it might be, it’s nothing. Nothing, compared to what people that live with MND face in a daily battle. I know that my pain, my struggle, my fight will have an end, it will get better and I can look forward to that as I plod round Birmingham.
But for people living with MND, their battle is worse; there is no end. I’m running because I remember how proud Joy was, how brave she was. I’m running to help raise some money so that clever, passionate people can find a cure… one day.”
We’ve got old hands and newcomers to running, team members aiming to beat their PB or just to make it across the finish line, but all of us are aiming to raise as much as we can for MNDA, and to enjoy the ride (euh run!)
With 7 of us running, the preparation varies from joining a colourful 5km fun run, to clocking the miles as fast as possible, to making the effort to get a run in before work (trust me it’s not easy when you love to sleep, but the sunrise makes it all worthwile).
To find out more about Joy’s story and what you can do to help, simply click here. All proceeds will be donated to the MND Association, the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland dedicated to improving care and support for people affected by the disease.
Help us support all those affected by MND.
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