For Shack and Jill: Matthew Runs Leeds Marathon for MNDA

Matthew will be running his fourth Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon this coming May after running his first in 2023 in honour of his friend Shack.

Shack sadly died of MND in December 2024, but his widow Lou has been a fierce campaigner for MND patients and their families ever since, with Shack having inspired a fundraising effort that raised over £2,500 for MNDA.

Jill was a stranger to Matthew when they met in July of this year, They met on the bus when Jill tapped him on the elbow after spotting his Leeds Marathon finisher hoodie. She showed him a lanyard that explained that MND had taken her voice.

"I explained that I ran the marathon for a friend with MND and raised funds for MNDA, and Jill was thrilled what I had completed this challenge."

They chatted until they got off the bus and went their separate ways...

"However, when getting back on the bus, I couldn't miss the unmistakeable smile that was Jill's."

When leaving the bus, Jill passed him a note that read "carry on running for me!". After getting home, Matthew reached out to Jill and her family, and they have kept in contact ever since.

"Both Jill and Shack have inspired me to continue my Leeds Marathon running journey, in-spite of initially saying 2025 was my final run in Leeds - a hat-trick of marathons and PBs each time seemed to provide a good final ending. How wrong was I? The inspiration of both Jill and Shack has pulled me back for 2026."