Woman Runs to Honor Mother, Supports MND Research

A woman is taking part in a running event to commemorate her mother, who passed away from Motor Neurone Disease (MND) a decade ago. Emma Smith, a resident of Guilsborough in Northamptonshire, experienced the loss of her mother, Janet, to the illness in 2014 and has subsequently been running in support of the MND Association. Kevin Sinfield, a former rugby league player and charity fundraiser, is undertaking a challenge to run 50km (31 miles) each day for a total of seven days, aiming to collect funds for six different MND charities. Ms Smith is joining him for the second-to-last day of his run, which commenced at Francis Crick House in Moulton Park on Friday morning and will conclude in Leicester. She stated, “My mum was a wonderful mother and friend, I’m running because we really want to see a cure to help those people suffering with MND.” Sinfield plans to cover the initial half of the route dressed in the black, green, and gold colours of Northampton Saints, then change into the green, red, and white of Leicester Tigers, thereby honouring both East Midlands rugby clubs. The former Leeds Rhinos player is participating in the run to honour the memory of his deceased friend and teammate, Rob Burrow, who succumbed to MND in June. Reflecting on her personal involvement with the cause, Ms Smith remarked: “The journey [of my mum’s deterioration] was painful to watch, and it left a gaping hole in our family when she left us. “I wanted to do something to make sure no one else goes through the same.” Ms Smith further commented: “I wanted to do the extra mile and every time I run, my mum’s on my shoulder.”It’s going to be positive and it’s going to be emotional. Mum would be proud of everything we’re doing.”