MND, Baby Loss, Hadrian's Wall and defining the narrative –a fundraising film

Hi,

Thanks for taking the time to visit our charity fundraising page for donations related to the "MND, Hadrian's Wall and a GP's journey to define his own narrative" film.

youtube.com/watch?v=-xYk4vE5nfY

In April 2023, at the age of 34, I was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND, also known as ALS), a life limiting, degenerative neurological disease with an average life expectancy of 30 months from the onset of symptoms.  I first developed symptoms in early 2022.

Receiving this diagnosis was utterly devastating, particularly coming 10 months after my incredible wife Kate and I were married, and when Kate was just 4 weeks pregnant.

When first told MND was a possibility I said that even if I were not diagnosed I wanted to do something to fundraise, to try and help make sure others in the future do not have to feel the fear and loss myself, Kate and our families experienced. This desire to fundraise and help others became even stronger, when in an October 2023 our son Rowan was still born at 31 weeks.

Over eight days in June 2024 myself, Kate and members of our families and friends walked the 84 miles of Hadrian's Wall from the West to East coast of Britain, in the process raising almost £70,000 for MND research and baby loss counselling charities.

During the course of the walk we went through ups and downs, with falls, staggering scenery, meeting incredible people and learning about the nature of resilience and determination.

This journey was documented bye my good friend Jack Fisher and ZP productions creating the amazing film you can watch on the link above. I hope that this film can help to raise awareness of both MND and baby loss and that perhaps people out there who are struggling with difficult moments or news in life might see our undertaking this challenge and believe that you can build memories and experiences, even facing adversity.

Since we undertook the challenge and the film the weakness in my muscles has gradually progressed with more muscles becoming affected. I now move around using a mobility scooter when outside and walking frames when inside. I use a device to help me eat and unfortunately my voice has now become affected. My days of walking the mountains might be over, but I continue to find ways, with the wonderful people around me, to keep doing the things I love.

Rowan lives on with us in our memories and will always be endlessly loved.

All donations on this page will go to two incredible charities:
My Name'5 Doddie Foundation have a clear vision of a world free of MND. The charity was established by rugby player Doddie Weir and the trustees in November 2017 following Doddie’s diagnosis. It was founded in response to his frustration at the lack of options available for MND patients – no effective treatment, limited access to meaningful clinical trials and what can feel like no hope.
The aims of the Foundation are simple:
- To raise funds to aid research into the causes of MND and investigate potential cures.
- To make grants to individuals suffering from MND, to enable them to live as fulfilled a life as possible.

PETALS is a baby loss counselling charity.
The specialist counselling service that they provide is life-changing for parents who have suffered the devastating loss of a pregnancy or death of a baby. These tragic experiences can not only result in grief but also in trauma. Their wonderful counsellors are there to help parents navigate their grief and trauma and to guide them to a place of hope.
Specialist psychological care related to pregnancy loss is not available on the NHS even though stillbirth & neonatal death affects 12,400 parents each year and represents 2% of pregnancies. Miscarriage is said to occur in 25% of all pregnancies.

Raising £80 will enable Petals to fund one counselling session
£1,200 will fund one new Petals approved counsellor

Link to the original fundraising pages:
donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/lukes-hadrians-wall-challenge
justgiving.com/page/kate--hb?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

Link to the film:
youtube.com/watch?v=-xYk4vE5nfY