Natalie Goode

Taking on 50k in the month of May, in memory of my daddy - Martin Lloyd Goode 🧡

In memory of my wonderful daddy Martin Lloyd Goode, throughout May I'm running & walking a total of 50km to raise money for the MS society.

This cause is very close to my heart, as my amazing daddy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in 2007. He sadly passed away suddenly in October 2023, at the age of 63, due to a burst stomach ulcer. Although his MS was not the cause of his sudden passing, this chronic condition is something that changed his life and severely affected his mobility, fine motor skills, breathing, speech, his ability to eat, his ability to carry out normal day to day activities, and his independence. My dad was a full-time wheelchair user, and in the last few years of his life, he was accessing full time care at home. However, his life living with MS was a positive one; he faced all these challenges with a positive attitude, with his signature huge smile on his face.

MS is a life changing diagnosis but my dad (and many others I’m sure) lived a very full life with MS and I’m fundraising to help others live a full life too and to work towards finding a cure.

Multiple Sclerosis is an immune system disorder, where the immune system mistakenly attacks the brains and nerves. MS is a life long condition and has no cure, and my dad has Primary Progressive MS - meaning the symptoms keep on progressing; as opposed to relapse remitting MS where symptoms usually occur as a relapse.

Both types of MS are challenging in their own ways, and the symptoms and how it affects everyday life are not the same for each individual with MS - I don’t want my dad’s story to scare anyone else who has MS or knows anyone who does…

So I’d like to reiterate that my dad’s life with MS was not a sad story, as despite the challenges his MS brought he approached every day and situation with positivity and always had a HUGE smile on his face! He adapted to every change in his mobility, situation and life experience with positivity, bravery and incredible resilience. Anyone who knew him will know and agree with this; he never moaned about his MS or symptoms when he had every reason to if he wantedit would have been justified.

Although living with MS was far from easy, my dad's positive attitude and the support and care of his family, friends and carers meant my dad could live as full a life as possible! My dad did lots of charity and activism work himself to improve the quality of life and social experiences for people with MS (he was the chairman of our local MA society branch for a while), and raised lots of awareness of this condition, and he has inspired me to do the same.

MS care and research has a long way to go, to support people to manage the changes this condition may bring, the effects on mental health and quality of life, which people may or may not cope with in different ways - as well as more research to find a cure. Support for people living with MS needs improving, This is why I am running to raise money to help and support people living with MS, to access the care and support they need and live a full life.

Running 50k in May will be a personal and emotional challenge for me, something I am doing for anyone affected by MS, for my Dad in relation to his MS, running in his memory and for him to be proud of me.

If anyone is able to spare even a few pounds to sponsor me, as I run & walk a total of 50k throughout the month of May, it would mean the world to me! Thank you so much!

Let's do this Daddy, your legacy will always live on 🙌🏾🧡

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I’m taking part in The May 50K. I will be taking on 50km throughout May and leaving my limits behind to raise funds for life-changing research into multiple sclerosis and better access to treatments! 

There are over 150,000 people in the UK living with MS and I need your help to leave MS where it belongs, behind us.

You can now support this work in the UK and around the World because The May 50K supports the MS Society UK and the MS International Federation. I’ve accepted the challenge to change lives.

Please make a donation to support my challenge.

Thank you so much!