Derbyshire family unites to fight MND in memory of distinguished former magistrate
They will climb and abseil down the Scottish Kelpies and plan to abseil from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and visit all 92 stadiums in the English Football League.
A Derbyshire family will push themselves to the limit to raise funds and awareness of motor neurone disease in memory of their beloved wife and mum Sue, a former recipient of the British Empire Medal.
Bob Wilson, his son Dave and daughter-in-law Claire, have already taken part in the London Marathon and Great North Run, climbed the National Peaks and abseiled down Anfield Stadium in Liverpool raising more than £17,000 for the MND Association. In August they will climb and abseil down the Scottish Kelpies and plan to abseil from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff and visit all 92 stadiums in the English Football League.
It’s all to honour the life of Sue, a former magistrate who received the British Empire Medal in 2017 from the late Queen for services to the community in Chellaston, Derbyshire. She was diagnosed with MND in 2024 and died in April last year.
Six people are diagnosed with MND every day in the UK. It’s a disease which attacks the nerves which send messages to the muscles. It can quickly take away someone’s voice, the ability to move, to eat or even breathe.
Bob explained: “Everyone loses people at some point in their lives, but I have never seen a disease as brutal as MND.
“The first sign that anything was wrong was when we were out and about in Derby in 2022 and I noticed her foot was slapping when she walked. We then noticed that her voice was changing. Unfortunately, being diagnosed with MND doesn’t happen quickly – there were lots of MRI scans but Sue did her research and knew she had MND. She was right.”
Life changed for the couple very quickly. Within months, Sue was being fed through a tube and by May 2024 she had taken steps to preserve her voice using AI. She died on 15 April, 2025.
“Before she died, Sue had already set-up a justgiving page to raise money for the MND Association so I know this is what she would want us to do,” Bob said.
“I know she would be supportive of everything we are doing, even though she might think we are mad for doing some of the challenges!”
As well as donations, Bob and his family are keen to hear from any local businesses who might be able to support with transport and sponsorship. For more information contact Bob on 07443 564098 or email [email protected]
To donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/david-wilson-1708122886380
You can find more information about MND and the MND Association by visiting mndassociation.org