Please be assured that 100% of donations go directly to ALS United. I am personally covering all costs associated with running the NYC Marathon. Please note that donations are processed in USD.

Thank you so much for supporting my New York City Marathon fundraiser in support of those impacted by Motor Neurone Disease and the vital work being done to find a cure. This cause is incredibly close to my heart and I can’t thank you enough for being part of it.

My friend Hanna Van der Gissen and I made a pact back in 2016, at 20 years old in our second year of uni, that we would run the NYC Marathon together when we turned 30. Ten years later, here we are! Now running not just for ourselves, but for a purpose. Along the way, we have both been personally affected by the loss of loved ones to neurodegenerative diseases.

In March this year, I lost my mother-in-law Susan, after living with Motor Neurone Disease for four years.

MND is a cruel, relentless disease with no cure. It gradually takes away a person’s ability to move, speak, eat, and eventually breathe, while their mind remains sharp and fully aware. MND doesn’t just affect one life, it reshapes entire families.

Right now, I can’t properly put into words how incredible Susan was and the impact she had on everyone who knew her. What I can say is that she was one of the strongest-minded people I’ve ever known. A marathon doesn’t even compare to a single day of what she had to endure living with this disease, but if running 42.2km helps raise awareness and funds for a cure, then it’s a privilege to do it.

Some facts about MND:

• Across Australia and New Zealand, more than 3,000 people are currently living with the disease.

• Average life expectancy is just 2–3 years after diagnosis.

• New Zealand has the highest rates of MND in the world, and we still don’t know why.

There is still no cure.

I am running the NYC Marathon with Team ALS to support those affected by MND/ALS, raise awareness, fund research, and help fight for a cure.

ALS United is a New York City-based non-profit organisation focused on Care, Advocacy, Research and Education. They are a partner of the NYC Marathon, and although they are based in New York, their impact is felt globally. While I’m from New Zealand and now based in Australia, I’m fundraising through ALS United as part of the marathon team, and the work they do contributes to research and support that reaches far beyond the United States.

Thank you again for your support. Every dollar truly does make a difference.