Man with MND running marathon to inspire others
A former doctor with motor neurone disease (MND) is preparing to run a marathon as a way of "showing others what's possible".
Andy Vaughton, from Poole in Dorset, was diagnosed with the condition in 2021.
The 47-year-old is taking part in the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon - organised in memory of the rugby league footballer - on Sunday, and will be using slings to support his weakened arms.
He is fundraising for the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which was created by former Scottish rugby icon Doddie Weir and supports MND research and those affected by the condition.
"This is about showing that it's still possible to do something meaningful with the time you have," Mr Vaughton said.
"This is about more than finishing, it's about making memories and showing others what's possible."
He said he knew there would be "dark moments" during the 26.2 mile (42km) run, but also knew he would have "people beside me".
The former anaesthetist was diagnosed with the condition during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"It was utterly devastating – your whole life collapses in on itself," he explained.
"It affects everything – family, friends, work, the future you thought you had."
Shortly after, the father-of-three received a call from British and Irish Lions legend Weir - who himself was living with MND.
Mr Vaughton said the call was "life-changing".
"Even though his voice was failing, he made time to talk. He told me to live in the moment, to stay positive. That call meant everything to me."
Weir died from MND in 2022 but has lived on through his foundation - which Mr Vaughton's marathon has already raised more than £25,000 for.
"My life crumbled around me, but I'm determined to live well for as long as possible," he said.
"I have friends who've since passed away who weren't fortunate enough to get this time, so I have to make the most of it."
There is no cure for MND, which affects about 5,000 adults in the UK, and the average life expectancy after diagnosis is two to three years, according to the MND Association.
You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Wait for motor neurone disease diagnosis 'so long'
MND patient urges people to join new year parkrun
My Name'5 Doddie Foundation
Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
27 minutes ago
- New York Times
John Stones committed to Manchester City: ‘I want to stay here, I love it'
John Stones has committed his future to Manchester City after admitting he questioned whether there was a way back from some 'dark days' during an injury-ravaged season. The England international defender is into his tenth season at Manchester City but foot and hamstring injuries plagued him last season. Advertisement It limited him to only 13 starts in all competitions and the influx of new defenders in the last two transfer windows led to speculation as to whether he could be allowed to leave before his contract expires next summer. 'I'm here, I want to stay here, I love it,' Stones said. 'I'm here to help the team. I don't know what's been said or speculated, but I hope that kind of shuts it down.' Stones made several comebacks last season but each time his body broke down. The last time he made an appearance was in February when he started the second-leg of the Champions League play-off match against Real Madrid but only lasted eight minutes before going down again. 'There's been points where you think, you've been giving all this effort, you dedicate all your life, especially how I approach or go about my life, and football, I give everything, on and off the pitch to be here or be ready to play games and those are the dark days,' he said. 'I think everyone's been through them and think, 'Why is this happening?'. You wish it would go a different path, but like I said, it's self-doubt, there's a lot of things 'All of us have been through different upbringings and challenges through life and what did we do within those situations, was it fight or was it give up? I was a fighter from a young age, in difficult moments, you have to look at the bigger picture and realise what are your morals, what you believe in, and fight to make it worthwhile.' Stones turned 31 last month and is now one of the most senior players with 277 appearances for the club. He is an experienced international player but he found the difficulty of diagnosing and treating his injury problems mentally challenging. 'I don't know what the reason was and we've sat with the medical staff, sports science, to try and figure out why,' he said. 'Some things can't be explained, which is even more testing mentally when there's not really an answer. Advertisement 'I've been unlucky with some of the injuries that I've had, they were very rare last season, after speaking to specialists. Sometimes I think, why has it happened to me? But I've got to deal with that and move forward and try to adapt with how my body's adapting. 'I think we all self-doubt as players and feel things and we want to get back as quick as possible. 'Maybe that's a downfall sometimes that you try to push too soon. Definitely family, I think that's my biggest thing, being around them and having their support. You can feel very lonely at times when you're training by yourself and that's the difficult part of it, being in a team sport, not training with the team when you run out of the pitch in your rehab. 'So a lot of things that you've got to get used to and deal with and try and set yourself goals to come back and it's been a challenge. I am over that hurdle.' City have signed Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, adding to a central defensive group that includes Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake. Some players and managers have complained about the expanded Club World Cup adding more games to an already packed calendar but Stones is viewing it as an opportunity to re-assert himself. 'I feel great, I'm back fit, ready to help the team when called upon. I think this season I've got to look more detailed into training, things that I can do off the pitch that I can sustain playing a lot more games. 'It's difficult when you're injured, you almost work longer and more, so from that aspect I know the guys mentally and physically have had such a long season. 'I suppose mentally for me it's been difficult dealing with the injuries and the process, but now I've put that behind me and used this as a mini introduction back into before the new season and another trophy for us to hopefully win and get some game time.'
Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Counties to vote on radical shake-up to cut matches from domestic cricket
Justin Broad of Northamptonshire appeals for an lbw in Northamptonshire's Championship match against Middlesex. There may be fewer such games next year. Justin Broad of Northamptonshire appeals for an lbw in Northamptonshire's Championship match against Middlesex. There may be fewer such games next year. Photograph:The 18 first-class counties will this week finalise plans to cut the County Championship and Twenty20 Blast to 12 matches in each competition next season in a significant restructure of the domestic game. The most recent attempt by the England and Wales Cricket Board to cut the fixture list was thwarted three years ago, when a review led by Sir Andrew Strauss for a 10-match Championship season was rejected by the counties, but after three months of talks there is now widespread agreement on reducing the volume of cricket despite complaints from county members. Advertisement Related: Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire, Worcestershire v Surrey: county cricket day one – live The counties are already understood to have agreed to cut the T20 Blast from 14 group stage fixtures to 12, allowing finals day to be brought forward to the end of July before the start of the Hundred, with this week's meetings to focus on a restructure of the County Championship. A consultation process led by the ECB's Professional Game Committee (PGC) gave the counties five different options for next season, with two to be put forward following meetings of the counties this week before a final decision next month. The Guardian has been told that both proposed options to be taken forward will involve cutting the Championship fixture list to 12 matches. The most radical proposal involves creating a 12-team Division One, split across two pools of six, with a six-team Division Two underneath. Each team in the two Division One pools would play 10 games against each other home and away, plus two additional fixtures against sides from the other pool. The winners of both pools after 12 matches would then play off in September for the County Championship title, with the bottom county in each pool being relegated. Advertisement The six Division Two teams would also play 12 matches, with some playing each other three times in a lopsided fixture list, and the winners of the league being promoted automatically. The second and third-placed teams would also play off at the end of the season for the right to be promoted. The alternative option to be put forward would maintain the existing 10-team Division One and eight-team Division Two format, but with a cut to 12 games. There would be no playoff title decider, but the second and third-placed teams in Division Two would face each other for the second promotion places. Other options proposed by the PGC, including three conferences of six followed by playoffs, a mid-season split similar to that used by the Scottish Premier League and keeping the current 14-game two-division structure, are set to be rejected. Sources involved in the discussions told the Guardian that the 12/6 split is regarded as the favoured format to be adopted, with the final decision to be made next month. A two-thirds majority of counties is required if the matter is put to a vote, although if a consensus emerges that may not be necessary. Removing two rounds of Championship fixtures would also enable the One-Day Cup to be split, with five rounds taking place in April and another five in August during the Hundred, giving more players the opportunity to play 50-over cricket. The County Championship schedule was last cut from 16 to 14 matches before the 2017 season, but with the volume of global franchise cricket having increased significantly since, and the Hundred now taking up the whole of August, there is a growing acceptance that a further reduction is required. The players are strongly in favour of less cricket, with 83% of respondents to a Professional Cricketers' Association survey published in May citing physical concerns over their current workload, and 67% believing the schedule is detrimental to their mental health.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mountain rescue team help injured walker on Scafell Pike in Lake District
A MOUNTAIN rescue team was called out to help a man who had injured his knee. The walker was unable to continue his journey on Scafell Pike, and Wasdale Mountain Rescue were brought in to assist him. The team was called out on Wednesday, June 18, to the incident. In a post on social media, Wasdale Mountain Rescue said: "The team was called on Wednesday afternoon by Cumbria Police. "A walker had fallen and painfully injured his knee, making it impossible to continue further. He has also lost consciousness briefly but has since recovered. "A full callout was made, and the team made their way to the location. Helimed 58 also responded but was unable to land close enough, so it was forced to abort. "A medical assessment was made before transferring the walker carefully into the team stretcher. "The long but routine carry was then completed without incident down to Brackenclose, where the walker was transferred into their own vehicle for onward transfer to the hospital. "We wish the walker a very quick recovery and hope to see him back on the fells soon."
