Picture of Joanne, January 2025's fundraiser of the month

January 2025’s fundraiser of the month – Joanne

My name is Joanne and this year I’ll be running The Bank of America Chicago Marathon for MS-UK.

In August 2019 I downloaded the Couch to 5K app to try and get a little bit fitter and since then running has become a massive part of my life. In April 2021 I joined a running club and before I knew it, I was training for a half marathon, and it’s excelled from there. I ran London Marathon 2023 and was very inspired by the charity runners I met on the day and saw on TV and all their fundraising achievements. This made me explore charity places for the TCS London Marathon 2024 which I secured and raised £2,700. The London Marathon 2024 fundraising total was £73.5 million. It is amazing what running events can do for charities.

My dream is to complete the original Six World Marathon Majors (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York) and claim my Six Star Medal. I have completed London and Berlin and with Chicago lined up for later this year I’m almost half-way there and hoping for Tokyo or New York in 2026.

My reason for choosing MS-UK as my charity to fundraise for is because my auntie had MS which had a huge impact on her day-to-day life. My auntie (my Mum’s sister) was diagnosed with MS in her early 20s, so I have some experience of the impact it has on an individual and their family.

Unfortunately, her condition rapidly progressed. It affected her ability to walk, talk, swallow and eventually having to be cared for round the clock in a nursing home. She sadly passed away in 2013 when treatments may not have been as advanced as they are today. My lasting memory of her though is that throughout all the difficulties she was experiencing from her illness, she never lost her sense of humour.

It’s important for anyone who has been diagnosed with a potentially life-changing illness to have support available to them and families to help navigate the uncertainty and not feel alone. MS-UK have many ways which they offer support such as helplines for information, online exercise classes, mental health support and benefits support.

Since November 2024 I have raised £1,000 for MS-UK through donations from family and ‘Celebrity Squares’ fundraising card which family, friends, colleagues and my running club members donated to, and my fundraising will continue throughout 2025

I would encourage anyone considering fundraising to choose MS-UK as they are completely independently funded so our help is vital for them to continue supporting anyone affected by MS.