100-year-old Sutton Coldfield man raising vital funds for MND

He has walked over 40,000 laps of his garden.

Author: Lauren WattPublished 18th Jan 2024
Last updated 19th Jan 2024

100-year-old Harold Jones from Sutton Coldfield has raised over 41-thousand pounds for Motor Neurone Disease.

In Lockdown Harold was inspired by Captain Tom and decided to start his own walking journey raising money for the MND Association after loosing three friends to the disease.

He's now walked over 40,000 laps of his garden and doesn't intend to stop while money is still coming in for such a good cause. His next goal is to reach the 50K mark.

Harold told us how he does it:

"The first walk in the morning is after breakfast and then into the afternoon again after lunch, rather than sit and do nothing, I'm out again. I do 20 laps in the morning and anther 10 at lunchtime".

"The finance part of it for MND made me more determined and if anything that's why I get out of this chair and get on with it whatever the weather unless it's pouring with rain."

"I've got fur lined gloves and the cold penetrated those this morning and I think it's been the coldest it's been. I was glad to get back inside, but determined to finish the walk first."

Motor neurone disease affects the nerves known as motor neurones. These nerves are found in the brain and spinal cord and they help tell your muscles what to do.

with MND, messages from the motor neurones gradually stop reaching the muscles. This leads the muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste, which can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe.

There is currently no cure for MND, you can find out more on the MND Association website.

Just before Christmas Harold was awarded a Points of Light award from the Prime Minister for his fundraising efforts.

You can help Harold to reach his £50,000 goal on his JustGiving Page.

Hear all the latest news from across the West Midlands on the hour, every hour, on 103.1 and 97.2FM (Wolverhampton, Black Country and Shropshire), 96.4FM (Birmingham), 97 and 102.9FM (Coventry and Warwickshire), 97.6FM, 102.8FM and 96.7FM (Herefordshire and Worcestershire), DAB, at freeradio.co.uk, and on the Free Radio app.