Crossing the Bridge for Mum with MND

Katie Corrie (21), from Edinburgh, took part in MND Scotland’s Fun Run Relay on Sunday 21^st June, with her fiancé Ben, to raise funds and awareness for motor neurone disease.

Going the extra mile to mark Global MND Awareness Day, the couple crossed the Forth Road Bridge dressed up as bridges themselves, to raise money for MND Scotland, because Katie’s mum was diagnosed with the terminal illness in October 2019. 

Katie said “I saw the post on Instagram about MND Scotland’s Fun Run Relay, so when Ben and I were walking over the Forth Road Bridge during lockdown I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to give back and help raise some money in fun way. And also, the best way to raise money is to do something while looking totally mad right? 

“It went amazing! I spent the two weeks prior making our bridge costumes and getting the word out. My parents and some of their friends saw us off and then once we were done, they had a little social distanced medal ceremony. We walked over the Forth Road Bridge and back, which is 5km. During it we passed another family who were also running as part of the Fun Run, so it was really nice to be able to shout a bit of encouragement halfway through.”

Cath (51), who is married to Alan (51), and mum to Katie and her sister Rachel (20), first realised something was wrong in June last year.

Katie said, “She began to notice her hip, and knee on her left leg, were getting stiff. She joked that it was probably old age as she had just turned 50, but when it didn’t ease mum and dad thought maybe she had picked something up on a cruise that they had been on in March. So, she went to the GP who started running tests and ruling things out. 

“It’s been hard. It has completely changed our lives. I had just moved out into my first house a few months before she was diagnosed so the difference for me between this year and last is pretty drastic, especially due to how fast mum is deteriorating. However, through the support from close friends and family it makes all the difference. 

“We’ve had an optimistic outlook from the beginning but there’s a lot of change month to month. In the first six months after being diagnosed mum had become completely dependent on her wheelchair and my dad to get around, and also with day-to-day tasks like getting ready and eating. I can’t emphasis enough how amazing my dad has been during everything. He has stepped into the role of carer and taken it in his stride, making sure that my mum can continue to be as comfortable as possible. He takes care of her full-time, as well as checking up on me and my sister, and running his own videography and photography business from home. That’s why it was so special doing the Fun Run on Father’s Day too.”

Following her mum’s diagnosis, Katie decided she wanted to raise funds for MND Scotland to help find a cure and support other families going through the same. Having set her initial target to £150, she smashed this within hours, and has already raised an incredible £910.

She said, “We chose to do this as we want to raise as much awareness for this incredible charity which has helped in every way with allowing us to go on amazing trips as a family, and to make adjustments in our everyday lives which help with the many changes that are happening.

“I hope that the money we’ve raised will go towards finding a cure of course, but in the meantime to families like ours who are trying to make memories while they can together by checking things off bucket lists. 

“I want people to know even though a disease like MND is completely devastating you’re not alone and asking for help is never something to be ashamed of. We can find a cure.”

Iain McWhirter, head of fundraising at MND Scotland, said “I’d like to thank Katie and Ben for joining over 700 MND Scotland supporters on Sunday for our virtual Fun Run Relay, and for taking such a creative twist on the event with their costumes.

“For people living with MND, time with loved ones is precious and I’m so glad MND Scotland have been able to help Katie and her family make memories they will never forget.

“All the money raised from our Fun Run Relay will go towards helping us stay connected to families in Scotland, so no one has to go through MND alone, and to fund pioneering research towards a cure. We may be apart right now, but we can still come together in spirit, to beat MND.”

You can donate to Katie’s total at www.justgiving.com/crossing-the-bridge-as-a-bridge.