Yahoo News Son smashes £10,000 target for Motor Neurone Disease Association after Kent dad's 'life changing' diagnosis
A 25-year-old has smashed his fundraising target for the Motor Neurone Disease Association to help the charity after his dad who lives near Cranbrook received the "life changing" diagnosis of the disease.
Patrick Backhouse, who now lives in London but grew up in Hawkhurst and Cranbrook, did an epic and "incredibly emotional" challenge of running along the Thames Path from Sonning, near Reading, to London - in one go.
The feat would see him run 110km and he called it the Big Orange Run for the MNDA, choosing the charity's vibrant colour. Patrick went to Sutton Valence School near Maidstone and said he had always loved sport, whether at school or playing at Cranbrook Rugby Club, so he was ready for his charity feat.
He had encouraged people to join him on the run along the way, but said he was "truly overwhelmed" by the huge number of family, friends and people from the charity who took him up on his offer, either en route or at the end, where his parents Mike and Lisa also were.
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Patrick, who is a twin with Guy, also has older siblings Kate, 29, Liv, 31, and Gus, 32, told KentLive: He said: "Every time there was a low along the route of the run, I was picked up by individuals joining!"
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) impacts the nerves, stopping messages from reaching the muscles which control how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. To this day, there is no known cure. The MNDA (Motor Neurone Disease Association) aims to fund research, improve care and provide support for people with MND and those impacted by the debilitating disease.
Patrick, whose nickname is Patch, said it was "life-changing news" when his father Mike received the diagnosis two years ago. Patrick now lives in Earlsfield in London and works at a consumer healthcare company. He said through the run he "wanted to give back" to the charity, and told KentLive why.
"Since my dad’s diagnosis, the support we have received from the MNDA, family and friends has meant that we have not felt alone in this fight In this spirit, I wanted to encourage anyone who wished to, to join me, whether it be running alongside me or supporting me along the route, ideally sporting something orange."
"I was truly overwhelmed by the number of people who came to join. It is as a result of these good selfless people that I was able to cross the finish line in Battersea park, greeted by my dad, friends and family."
"We have now raised over £10,700 for the charity, surpassing the £10,000 target that we had dreamed of hitting. I will be forever grateful for those that showed their support, whether it be from near or far and the great work that the MNDA does in the battle against this disease."
Talking to us about the support he got for the event, as the group photograph shows, Patrick said: "From both my parents and my perspective, we are incredibly overwhelmed by the number of people who supported this. From individuals who started with me at 3am, to those who cheered along the way, to those who helped drive this via social media and who supported from afar."
"It was an incredibly emotional experience and would not have been possible without the good, selfless people came together to support my family and the MND cause. My family and I will be forever grateful for this."
You can still support Patrick Backhouse's fundraising for the MNDA
Find the JustGiving page for this fantastic cause on this link here.
