A Frome family is taking on 26 challenges in 2026 to raise funds and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease charities, after their mum was diagnosed with the illness.
From marathons and triathlons to a silent touch rugby match, the family hopes their efforts will show how MND affects patients, while supporting the charities Motor Neurone Disease Association, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and 4Ed.
Local resident Dominic Jones said his mother, Nicola Jones, received her MND diagnosis in May last year. He explained, “We’ve got a whole host of Snowdonia challenges, various triathlons, functional fitness challenges and we have also got a darts challenge because of the element of motor skills and motor movements. I chose to do 26 challenges because it is 2026.”
Dominic will also be running the Bath Half Marathon in March and a 70-mile Ultra Marathon in 24 hours later in the year. For some of the running challenges, he will be wearing a breathing apparatus raising awareness of how MND affects patients’ breathing.
In the summer, the family are also hoping to hold a ‘silent touch rugby’ match with Frome Rugby Football Club, raising awareness of how MND can affect speech.
With some challenges already complete, including 31 miles throughout January and the Longleat 10km, Dominic said his mum will be joining in when she can.
“We finished the 31-mile challenge in January at Frome parkrun and she did the final lap with my three children,” said Dominic, who has also set up an Instagram page to share updates of the events and informative posts about MND.
He said that although the challenges will be tough, they will be nothing compared to the struggles people with MND live with.
“Having had cancer twice, mum is full of grit and determination,” said Dominic. “She is quite an inspirational woman who is the life and soul of the environment she’s in.
“She became a nurse in the Royal United Hospital, then went on to work at Dorothy House Hospice where she has actually worked with lots of MND sufferers and patients.
“I know that mum will get to a point where she may be able to sit there, she won’t be able to talk, move or give us anything. She will be able to see and know what’s going on and she won’t be able to tell us that, other than through her eyes. We have our Mum right now and we will enjoy our moments with our Mum and our Dad now and that is important to remember.”
To support the fundraiser visit https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/26for26formnd
