Man to run equivalent of seven marathons for MND

A runner has said he wants to "understand" motor neurone disease (MND) after his mum was diagnosed with the condition.

Tom Spearman, from Ford in Wiltshire, is set to take on a 184-mile (296km) Thames Path challenge in under 40 hours in October in a bid to raise £50,000 for the charity My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.

Last year his mum Elisa Spearman was diagnosed with MND, something he described as a "desperately cruel disease".

Tom has already been given £20,000 in donations ahead of the challenge, which will take him through Oxford, Reading, Henley, Windsor, Richmond, and London. The distance is the equivalent of more than seven marathons back-to-back.

"MND is a desperately cruel disease. Like many families, we knew very little about it until Mum was diagnosed and suddenly it became part of everyday life," Spearman said.

"Watching someone you love go through that is incredibly difficult. You feel helpless at times."

Spearman said fundraising had provided him with a way to help contribute to the search for better treatments.

"I need to understand what it is, and I think raising awareness broadly is another powerful tool for helping tackle the disease," he added.

MND is a rare, degenerative condition that affects the brain and nerves, and has no cure.

Over the years, the disease has gained increased public awareness following the diagnosis of sports figures such as former England Rugby captain Lewis Moody and the deaths of rugby legend Rob Burrow and cricket star Syd Lawrence.

In 1988, Lawrence became the first British-born black cricketer to represent England, he went on to earn five Test match caps for his country.

Following his MND diagnosis in 2024 he was later left unable to speak or walk and died in June 2025.

Spearman, whose running nickname is 'Tiger' said he chose the river route for the challenge because he studied in Oxford and regularly swam in the Thames.

"Rivers have always been places where I've found perspective," he said.

"Following the Thames felt right. It is a huge challenge, but it also feels deeply personal."

He said he hopes the scale of the challenge will encourage others to donate and show their support for families affected by MND.

My Name'5 Doddie Foundation director of fundraising and engagement, Paul Thompson, said the charity challenge is "extraordinary".

"Running 184 miles is an incredible physical challenge, but what stands out most is the reason behind it," he said.

"Every pound raised will help accelerate research into effective treatments for MND."

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