Macclesfield Nub News reporter, Alexander Greensmith has planned to run 60 miles in a month, in hopes to raise money for charity.

The Macclesfield Nub News Editor is running 60 miles in August to raise awareness and funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, to make sure people suffering with the disease get the care and support they need.

MND stands for motor neurone disease, and every day in the UK six people are told that they have MND.

The symptoms include slurred speech, muscle weakness and twitching and they get worse over time to the point where you can't eat, talk, walk and eventually breathe.

60 miles is the equivalent of 96 kilometres, or about 19 5K runs.

Alex's goal of raising £150 has already been exceed and is currently at £167, before August has even began.

Alex was inspired to take part in this charity run in support of his friend's grandfather who suffers from the disease and to also raise awareness.

"I've done fundraisers for MND Association before, but not one that has pushed my body to the limit," he said.

"There was an advert on my Facebook, and it just said run 60 miles in August to support MND. So I simply clicked on it, and signed up."

It isn't too late to sign up to the 'Run 60 Miles in August for MND' challenge.

"Until I learned that my friend's granddad got it, I didn't realise how bad the disease was, I obviously knew of it but didn't really look into it.

"But because obviously Stephen Hawking lived for so long with a form of MND, I thought 'oh it can't be that bad', but no it can be really devastating for everyone involved."

Alex has also taken part in an MND fundraiser at the beginning of the year with his friend where they raised £3000 doing a video game livestream and throughout the past 10 months, he has also covered two news stories on MND for Macclesfield and Stockport Nub News.

Alex is hopeful for general awareness and support for the charity beyond this event.

£167 has been fundraised so far, before the challenge has even started.

"Obviously my running thing is just a drop in the ocean," he added

"I am fortunate for the disease not to have directly impacted by family, but I know the impact it can have and want to do my bit.

"I've covered lots of running fundraisers at my time at Nub News, so I thought it was high time I did my own.

"And there are thousands of other people doing this MND running challenge in the UK.

Where money raised could go to. (Image - @mndassoc)

"So it would be great if someone sees this and learns about MND and they want to take up the challenge too."

Tom Quirk is the Senior Community Fundraiser at the Motor Neurone Disease Association. The charity work across the nation, but are based in Northampton. 

"MND is a neurological disease that affects the brain," he said.

"It is a terminal disease that stops the brain communicating with muscles outside the body. It starts in your hands, and works its way through the body until you can't walk, talk, eat and then breathe. 

Tom Quirk works for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and told Nub News how the disease affects the human body, and family members of those diagnosed with it. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Macclesfield Nub News)

"About a third of people die within a year of diagnosis of MND. And over half of people die within two years of their diagnosis. 

"We support people living with and affected by MND. We provide care support from grants, whether it is helping them to heat their home or travel expenses because they are going to hospital a lot more. We provide campaigning to raise awareness, and research, our vision is a world free from MND.

"Six people are diagnosed every day. If you think about how many subscribers Tom has [which is 12,000], in every 300, one of them could have MND at some point. That is a pretty scary figure. 

"£2000 could fund a laptop that an MND researcher could use, and have specialist software on that laptop to enable them to carry out their research. 

(Image - https://www.mndassociation.org/support-and-information/pauls-mnd-storyline-on-coronation-street)

"That is a piece of equipment that we are able to give to a researcher to potentially bring us a step closer to a cure to MND. The lifetime value in what that could mean is incredible."

According to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, Motor neurone disease affects 5000 people in the country at any one time.

You can donate to Alex's fundraiser via this link.

"Thank you to everyone who has donated so far," concluded Alex.

You can donate by copy pasting https://www.facebook.com/donate/1123722908885751/1123722915552417/ into your browser.

"If just like to say while journalists are meant to be neutral, charity is something everyone is agreeable with so it's a pleasure to use this platform of Nub News to add a little help towards those going through this horrible, horrendous disease."

To learn more about MND, please click HERE. To find more about the charity, please click HERE.

Once again, you can donate HERE.