Clarkson’s Farm favourite Charlie Ireland, better known to viewers as Cheerful Charlie, is taking on a 31-mile running challenge this January to support the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association.
The challenge encourages participants to run a total of 31 miles across the 31 days of January to raise awareness and vital funds for the charity. Mr Ireland, who is also an ambassador for the MND Association, shared an update on Instagram after completing his first run, admitting the task was tougher than expected.
Posting after day one, he joked that while he considered running extra miles, he decided against it on the first day, calling it “cheating”.
Motor neurone disease is a terminal, fast-progressing condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It damages the nerves responsible for movement, gradually preventing muscles from working. While senses such as sight and hearing are usually unaffected, the disease can leave people unable to move, speak or eventually breathe.
In the UK, MND affects around 5,000 adults at any one time. Tragically, a third of those diagnosed die within a year, and more than half within two years. There is currently no cure.
To learn more about motor neurone disease or to support the charity, visit the MND Association website at mndassociation.org.
