From London to Leeds....raising awareness of MND

UPDATE 5 May 2026 -

Wow the London Marathon was epic that I have now decided at the last minute to enter the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon on Sunday, 10 May 2026.

The 4Ed Foundation has kindly managed to extend the loan of the buggy that I am now able to take part in the Leeds Marathon in the very buggy that was used by Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrow in 2023.

As you are aware I was diagnosed with MND in 2019 and since then I have completed many challenges to raise awareness and funds of this demonic disease.  To be part of the Leeds Marathon will be extra special, especially as this is the home ground of Rob Burrow.

The team will be a bit different to the London Marathon.

Phil will be the lead in the team, he is a fell runner so this should be a walk in the park for him. I met Phil through a mutual friend when we did our first challenge - cycling from John O Groats to Lands End.  This is what Phil had to say: "John's honesty and forthright approach to his condition was infectious for me,  I am now lucky to call him my friend and thats why I'm honoured to be doing the Leeds Marathon with him".

Ben Tench and I got to know each other through the Pilgrim Bandits and Curtis Palmer Program charities.  Ben is also part of the gone tabbing group.  He recently completed the London Marathon carrying 80Lb on his back.  Ben states:" I got to know John when he was undertaking walks in the hills and mountains and parachute training in Shropshire."  Ben has kindly agreed to step in at the last minute.  Ben states: "I am looking forward to assisting John and being part of the team at the Leeds marathon.

My boy Chris who has completed the London Marathon with me a few weeks ago, will be tying his laces once again to be part of the team.  His strength and determination are beyond his years.  He has dedicated himself in helping to raise awareness and funds for MND.

Money raised from the Leeds Marathon will go directly to the MND Charity the 4ED Foundation. The 4ED Foundation is part of Gloucester Rugby Foundation, they offer support to those affected by MND.

Please follow our challenge on social media: insta/|FB:  Johnversusmnd

Thank you for your support, please help us raise awareness and much needed funds by sharing and if you are able to donate.

1 February 2026
London Marathon: 26 April 2026

Hi, my name is Dan, I have been a firefighter for 18 years and am still serving in the London Fire Brigade.  
 
Unfortunately, in the brigade we have had a number of MND/ALS cases.   I’ve heard John Chart's name for years through the fire service, he was a big character that everyone knew, even if they hadn't met him!  
 
I met John, properly through the Walk&Talk999 group about 2 or 3 years ago but as always if you're a firefighter, you're already halfway to knowing each other. I found it incredible how positive he was about life and his approach to grabbing every day and making it count. I know sometimes he covered up how he was feeling but his positivity really inspired people that were struggling and that was great to see.
 
John was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in July 2019 but noticed his first symptoms in 2016.  John served as a London Firefighter for over 26 years before resigning due to his diagnosis.
 
Since his diagnosis, John has made it his mission to raise as much awareness and funds for MND.
 
I kept seeing all the posts of the challenges John was doing and how much he put into raising awareness of this demonic disease that is massively underfunded in terms of research. It made the Walk&Talk999 group want to do something to show support so some of us walked from London to Brighton (64 miles cross country) flying John's infamous MND flag to show him how much we appreciate him and to help raise awareness. That was a gruelling 24 hours on our feet but we knew how much John appreciated it and it kept us moving.
 
Some of the challenges John has completed include:
 
Cycling from John O' Groats to Lands End on an adapted hase pinto tandem bicycle (2020)
Get creative with MND and the lemon challenge (during lock-down)
Competed in the Commando Speed March (2021)
Trekked to one of the highest drop zones Syangboche in Nepal and tandem sky dived over Mnt Everest with his arms strapped (2022)
Trekked to Everest basecamp in support of veteran Hari Budha Magar who became the first double above the knee amputee to summit Mount Everest. (this was the hardest challenge due to the deterioration of MND) - (2023)
Cycled 650 miles to all the rugby premiership grounds, started at Newcastle on 24 April 2025 and finished at Exeter rugby ground on 11 May 2025.
 
John's done this whilst not losing his humour (unfortunately) or his thirst for life. He is always positive in the face of everything he, and all those with MND go through.
 
John's health has deteriorated over the years that he has become virtually entombed within his body.  John can no longer do anything independently and relies fully on support on everything from his wife but they two of them still get out and do as much as life has to offer.  
 
John has inspired me, that no matter what's going on in your life, there is always something good around the corner and always a purpose for getting out of bed in the morning.
 
I wanted to give something back to Jonn to show appreciation for everything he does by pushing him around possibly the most iconic Marathon in the world - The London Marathon! I've been trying to get him a spot for a few years and hoped we'd do it at the point he could still walk a little. I wanted him to be able to fly the MND flag walking across the finish line but getting a space was hard and John's legs deteriorated before we secured one. We've got one now and John might not be able to walk over the line anymore but we can still get him there!

The London Marathon offers extensive accessibility support that we are able to have two support runners with us.  Darren Bird is a close friend of mine and also a firefighter.  He has been in the job for 24 years.  He lost a very close friend to MND so when I asked him he had no choice really to say no.  Neil Strange is a close friend of John & Arlene.  Neil has taken up a few challenges to support John in his cause for raising awareness and funds for MND.  At the time of these challenges, John was unable to use his arms so Neil swam with his arms tied and beaching like a whale and he ran the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon in 2023 with his arms tied.   
 
Leeds Beckett University has kindly loan us the assisted athlete wheelchair through the 4ED Foundation.  This is the assisted wheelchair that Kevin Sinfield used to do the Leeds Marathon in May 2023 with teammate/friend Rob Burrow.  Rob Burrow sadly passed away from MND in June 2024.  
 
It's going to be a test of endurance but John doesn't get a break from his MND so I'm sure I can stand a few long hours pushing him round and raising awareness of MND.
 
For me it's a chance to give back to another firefighter and more specifically to John, to show appreciation for how he's helped and inspired others.  
 
Money raised from this challenge will be split between the 4ED Foundation and the Fire Fighters Charity.  Both these charities are close to our hearts for many reasons. The 4ED Foundation is part of Gloucester Rugby Foundation, they offer support to those affected by MND and The Fire Fighters Charity provide life-long care and support the UK's fire family.
 
Please follow our challenge on social media: insta/|FB:  Johnversusmnd
 
Thank you for your support, please help us raise awareness and much needed funds by sharing and if you are able to donate.