In a display of courage and dignity that I couldn't come close to matching, one of my oldest friends and his wife are facing an almighty challenge head on. 

Their son, Kerr, was diagnosed in December 2015 with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle wasting disease.  Without effective treatments, Kerr will likely be wheelchair bound by the age of 12.

They hope that with continued research an effective treatment and ultimately a cure for this awful disease will be found to give Kerr and other boys suffering a brighter future.  As such, I'm taking part in two 'reasonable' length races this year to raise money for this cause:

- the Stirling Marathon on 21 May 2017 (26.2 miles through various landmarks in Stirling); and

- the 50 km version of 'Run the Blades' (around the wind turbines at Whitelee Windfarm) on 22 July 2017. 

As always, I'll also be running in memory of my Mum (GBNF).

Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity for 70,000 people living with muscle-wasting conditions. They are making a difference today, providing vital information and support to help people live as independently as possible. They are making a difference for tomorrow, accelerating progress in research and driving the campaign for access to emerging treatments.