Oxford Doctor with MND walks Hadrian's Wall for charity

Luke Hames-Brown, who was diagnosed in April 2023 at the age of 34, says Rugby legends Rob Burrows, and Doddie Weir inspired him.

Author: Andrea FoxPublished 17th Jun 2024

An Oxford doctor with Motor Neurone Disease says Rugby legend Rob Burrows was inspiring to him.

Luke Hames-Brown was also been inspired by Doddie Weir to complete his charity challenge to walk the 84 mile length of Hadrian's Wall at the weekend (Saturday 15th June).

He was diagnosed in April 2023 at the age of 34.

https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/lukes-hadrians-wall-challenge

The diagnosis of MND has seen him have to give up his career, but he says he's been inspired by both the rugby legends to take on this challenge with his partner Kate and friends.

"Seeing he and Doddie being open about their diagnosis, speaking candidly about what life with MND is like has encouraged me to do what I'm doing now and put myself out there."

The 84 miles took Luke and his team 8 days, and he says a fall on day one made him worry he wouldn't be able to finish. But with the support of his group he completed the walk and has raised nearly £38,000 so far. He was raising money for a few charities.

As well as My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and Motor Neurone Disease Association, but also Petals the Baby Loss Counselling Charity. Last year as well as Luke's MND diagnosis, he and wife Kate had a son, Rowan, stillborn at 31 weeks last year at the John Radcliffe hospital, in Oxford.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/kate--hb

On completing the challenge Luke tells us:

"I’m really happy to have taken on the challenge and although I had to modify my expectations of myself having been under the weather and had some falls early on, I hope I have shown that by adapting we can still challenge ourselves and keep involved in the things we love.

Couldn’t have done this at all without the support of Kate, my parents, our families and friends who joined us.

Amazed by the donations, our pages are staying open so please keep donating and sharing to help fight MND and support people through baby loss."

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