This Girl CAN and WILL keep saying YES to challenges in memory of Dad and to support the MND community
This Girl CAN and WILL keep saying YES to challenges in memory of Dad and to support the MND community

Katie Dowson

23 Apr - 31 Dec 2025

This Girl CAN and WILL keep saying YES to challenges in memory of Dad and to support the MND community

When my Dad was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in August 2016 I was desperate to show him how much I cared and to “do something” to help. I still find a lot of comfort in knowing how proud he was and that he was alive to see me finish my first marathon, 6 months before he died in April 2018. I continue to support the MND community any way I can, in my dad’s memory and for all of the warriors I have met or am still to meet. This is such a caring community to be part of and whilst my body is able, I will keep saying yes to the challenges coming my way.

I am always so grateful for the generous donations from friends and family and also very conscious that it is a lot to ask people to donate over and over again. Hopefully by setting this one page up, it will mean donations can be made to these awesome charities as and when people want to or can support. It also means both varieties will benefit from the multiple challenges I’m taking part in this year.

With the Lisbon Half Marathon and March of the Day 2 challenges already completed in March this year, I am signed up to complete more events and challenges:

- The Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon on Sunday 11th May - helping to raise vital funds for the innovative Rob Burrow MND Centre. Having been involved in the very first 7 Stories Campaign, this is a project I am so passionate about and can’t wait to see the centre operational and making a difference to families like mine.

8th June - walking 48 miles in one day from Bury FC to Stockport County as part of the Grassroots Tour with my beautiful friend Nic. This will be an incredible 3 day event that I’m thrilled to be supporting the fab team at the Darby Rimmer Foundation.

7th September- The Great North Run with Team Darby and Houghton ❤️ running alongside some amazing humans to help raise more awareness and funding for in a truly iconic race that I first completed the year my dad died.

10th-12th October - The Scottish March of the Day - walking over 140 miles with a special team in collaboration with My Name is Doddie Foundation and the Darby Rimmer team.

I’ll be asking my legs for forgiveness in July 2028 😂

Supporting

Leeds Hospitals Charity
Leeds Hospitals Charity

Health | 1170369

50%

We have world class NHS hospitals here in Leeds whenever we need them; your donations make them even better. When it’s your loved one in hospital, you want the very best care, equipment and research to be available. Our NHS staff already do an incredible job caring for patients and your support can help them do even more.

The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation
The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation

Health | 1185307

50%

Footballer Stephen Darby and close friend and British Forces Veteran Chris Rimmer have partnered together to launch the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation. Stephen and Chris both have Motor Neurone Disease, their aim is to create awareness of MND, to fund and assist research into the illness with the quest of finding a cure for the illness, to raise funds and offer grants to those with MND.

Supporters

33

£1,216.87

+ £227.50 Gift Aid

33 supporters

Charities Supporting

Leeds Hospitals Charity
50%
The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation
50%