A COVENTRY man is hiking 186 miles to raise money for Moto Neurone Disease Association in memory of his mother.
Chris Maclean, 35, along with his wife Nicola, is taking on the challenge of a 186-mile hike along the Pembrokeshire Coast to honour his late mother and raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association.
Chris’s journey began in a bittersweet backdrop, as he and Nicola navigated the complexities of wedding preparations while also grappling with his mother Alison’s deteriorating health.
Alison had been diagnosed with Progressive bulbar palsy, an aggressive form of motor neurone disease, which gradually eroded her ability to communicate and perform basic functions.
Chris said: “The disease slowly eats away to the point you can’t really communicate and can barely move.
“To the point she passed, it felt like there was nothing I could really do.
“It felt like I had no power to help her suffering.”
Despite the challenges, Chris and Nicola pushed forward with their wedding plans and Alison attended with a smile on her face despite being confined to a wheelchair and unable to eat or dance.
Tragically, Alison passed away just two months after Chris and Nicola exchanged vows.
Now, eight years later, Chris is channelling his grief and sense of powerlessness into action by undertaking a monumental hike to raise awareness and funds for the MND Association.
With the support of his employer, Crown Workforce Management, Chris and Nicola aim to complete the trek in just 14 days, navigating the rugged terrain of the Pembrokeshire Coast.
The couple are tackling the trek on non-consecutive weekends, including some back-to-back walks.
Chris said: “My mum loved walking, and coastal walks in particular.
“So, to do something like this is nice, hand in hand while thinking about my mum pretty much the entire time.”
“The statistics say two in 100,000 people are affected by MND in the UK, but I personally know quite a lot of people who have suffered with it or have friends or family living with the condition.”
The couple has already completed a significant portion of the hike, with each step bringing them closer to their fundraising goal.
While they have raised £870 so far, Chris and Nicola are determined to reach their target of £1,500 as they continue their journey.
Visit www.justgiving.com/page/nicola-maclean-1704453955996 to donate.
