A group of five colleagues from Princes are in training for this year’s AJ Bell Great North Run to raise awareness and funds for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation.
Sales Director Alastair Roberts, General Sales Manager Richard Parkinson, Financial Controller Kevin Darby, Manufacturing Finance Director Alastair Flett and Finance Director Victoria Howard will all be taking part in the 13-mile route from Newcastle to South Shields on Sunday, September 8.
It is the world’s biggest half marathon and 60,000 runners are expected to run in it this year.
The Princes’ team are supporting the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, which was set up by Kevin Darby’s brother and former Liverpool, Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers footballer Stephen Darby and his close friend and British Forces veteran, the late Chris Rimmer following their MND diagnoses.
Stephen was forced to retire from professional football at the age of 29 after being diagnosed with the disease. The first sign of symptoms was a weakness in his hand and twitching in his arm.
Chris, who served in the RAF and worked for NATO in Afghanistan, died in April 2022 at the age of 38. He was diagnosed with MND in 2015 after over a year of progressive symptoms.
Kevin said: “Starting the foundation was a way of them both turning something so devastating into something positive. They also wanted to have a positive impact on MND and to help those individuals and families living through it to support them.
“They both had good jobs and great support networks but were very aware that others with MND might not be so lucky. They also knew how difficult it can be to receive support especially as the disease progresses and individuals and families need to start making changes such as house adaptations.
“Chris sadly died two years ago but he was a massive support for a lot of people in the MND community.”
The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation was established in 2019 to raise awareness of the disease, to support people who need it and to fund research into finding a cure for MND. It has raised over £2 million to date and supported over 640 grants to help support individuals and families with everyday living.
Grants go towards house and vehicle adaptions, riser recliner chairs, stairlifts, beds and accessories, mobile arm supports and electric door opening systems.
In 2022, a group of Princes colleagues walked from the Royal Liver Building in Liverpool, where Princes is headquartered, to the Greater Manchester home of their colleague Justin Hammond who was also diagnosed with MND. He died in January 2023.
Alastair Roberts, who was part of the group of walkers and will be taking part in the Great North Run, said: “This is a great charity and one that is close to all at Princes.
“Justin fought what is a cruel disease with dignity and remarkable courage, which makes it even more important that we do what we can to raise money and awareness to help other people with MND.”