A doctor who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease aged just 34 will set off on an epic eight-day hike across England on Saturday.
Luke Hames-Brown, a GP from near Oxford, is walking 84-miles along Hadrian’s Wall to raise funds for research into the incurable condition in memory of Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir.
The late rugby legends campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness and cash to fight MND after their diagnoses.
Tributes flooded in this week after former Leeds Rhinos star Burrow died on Sunday, aged 41.
Luke, now 35, said: “I want to raise as much money as we can to help further research into MND and support those affected by the disease.
“The way Rob Burrow, like Doddie Weir, approached his MND was an inspiration for me, and our challenge, the funds we raise, and the awareness we generate will be in his memory as well. I will be thinking of him along the way for sure.”
READ MORE: Rob Burrow’s medical team open up on what it was like treating rugby league icon
Hull York Medical School graduate Luke will be joined by his wife Kate, 38, who is also a doctor.
She is fundraising for baby loss charity Petals, which supported the couple after their son was stillborn at 31 weeks last October.
The pair met while working together in A&E and will mark their second wedding anniversary during the challenge.
Luke’s diagnosis last April came around a year after he first noticed symptoms including weakness in his legs and lack of balance.
He recalled: “We sat by a river and just cried. I’d recently had a patient receive an MND diagnosis, and I knew what it meant.
“My immediate thoughts weren’t about me to be honest, I was thinking about Kate, my parents and our families, I wanted to make sure they’d all be okay.”
Luke retired from his job as a GP earlier this year to spend more time with his family.
He and Kate will cover around 10 miles each day on their trek from the West to East coast of Britain.
The challenge would once have been easy for Luke – a former search and rescue volunteer who used to run 5km in under 25 minutes – but will now test his body to the limits.
With every step, he hopes to show others in his position that they should not give up on their ambitions.
Luke added: “I know my MND is going to get progressively worse, and I have to accept greater vulnerability, but I won’t let it stop me doing what I love, I just do it differently.
“It’s a recalibration of what I can and want to achieve each day.
“I also hope that people out there who are perhaps struggling with difficult moments or news in life might see me taking this challenge on and believe they too can build memories and experiences, face adversity head on, and not let it stop them doing what they love.”
Around 5,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with MND.
Luke’s fundraising page has gathered more than £23,000 in donations so far, which will go to Weir’s My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and the MND Association.
Paul Thompson, director of fundraising at My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “Luke’s approach to MND and this challenge is an inspiration to all of us in the MND community.
“Doddie didn’t let MND stop him doing what he loves, and Luke is doing just the same.
“His efforts and approach to this illness demonstrate the urgency required to find effective treatments and cures for MND, and we are dedicated to achieving it.
“We all wish him the best of luck, and will be following his journey every step of the way.”
You can support Luke’s fundraising here.