Kayleigh and Vikki to run Leeds Marathon in memory of Paul 

Close friends Kayleigh and Vikki will be running the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon, to raise funds for the MND Association, a charity very close to their hearts. 

In 2016, Vikkki's husband, Paul was unfortunately diagnosed with MND. A family of four, their world was turned upside down.

As a result, Kayleigh and her partner Nigel fundraised endlessly for the MND Association. Kayleigh and Nigel ran Great North run twice, climbed the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, and Nigel even climbed Everest. as well as many obstacle courses and fun runs along the way. However their fundraising efforts, unfortunately, came to a halt after Kayleigh was hit by a car out running in November 2018.

After an incredible battle with MND, Paul sadly passed away in December 2019. Leaving his two sons, Jack and Max, and wife Vikki. 

Kayleigh is now back out running and as a result, has signed up to the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon with Vikki. They will be both running with the aim to raise funds to help other families living with MND and to support research to find a cure. 

Kayleigh says, "I think one of the main messages Id love to get across is that no matter what challenges we are faced in our daily lives nothing compares to an MND diagnosis." 

Paul was diagnosed in 2016 and passed away in December 2019 after an incredible battle with the disease. 

As you’ll know it’s an incredibly cruel disease and really does impact those around you. It’s still impacting Vikki and her two boys today. Especially as she has been diagnosed with PTSD when Paul passed away.

This is just one of the many reasons we’ve chosen to run the Rob Burrow Marathon in his memory.

During 2017 and 2018, My partner Nigel Beardow and I raised money for MND and for Vikki and Paul to help with this horrible disease.

We completed the GNR (twice), did obstacle courses, fun runs, 3 Peaks, and even climbed Everest (well Nige did).

But that fundraising came to a sharp end in November 2018 when I was hit by a car out running. Cue 4 long years of rehab, physiotherapy, surgery, and psychological therapy for PTSD it’s been a different battle.

I finally had my last round of surgery (Morton neuroma and Achilles stretched in November 2022) so I’ve only just been given the all-clear to begin running this week! So my training is somewhat shorter than most. 

But we are both still here. And we've decided to run the Rob Burrow marathon in the hope of raising funds to help other families AND support research to find a cure. "

Paul photographed here with their sons, Jack and Max.