Carla Jack

Carla didn't let Covid 19 get in the way of her fundraising when the Scottish half-marathon was cancelled. She just ran it herself.

Why did you decide to fundraise for your chosen cause?

My mum was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) around five years ago. It is something she will have to live with for the rest of her life and I am very proud of her for always doing her best, no matter how she feels.

The cause of MS is unclear and currently there is no cure. Around 130 people are diagnosed with MS every week in the UK. I feel like little is known about neurodegenerative diseases like MS, motor neurone disease (MND) and Parkinson’s disease, which are all life limiting conditions. More research is desperately needed in these areas.

The Anne Rowling Clinic offer’s support to people with MS as well as conducting vital research. I really hope that the money raised can further the research by the clinic and help everyone affected by neurodegenerative diseases.

How did you raise money?

I wanted to challenge myself in order to raise money, so I signed up for the Scottish Half-Marathon. I have always liked exercise, but running over 5km was very new to me! It was tough training and I injured my hip at one point, so had to rest for a couple of weeks during my training plan. Unfortunately the race was cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic, but I knew I still had to complete my run and I decided to map my own half marathon through East Lothian. I asked my boyfriend to help me by carrying my water whilst I ran! I also had a really bad cold on the date I was meant to run, so I decided to delay it by one week. This was hard as I felt so prepared for it. It definitely made the run on the day harder as I was still recovering but it was the right decision. I was ecstatic to reach the end and see my mum waving me over the line. It made the months of training worth it. I received so much moral support from friends and family and I’m not sure I could have done it without them all.

Fundraising wisdom

If you’re considering fundraising for a charity, it is good to contact them and they will be happy to help you with anything you are unsure about.

Challenge yourself and you never know what you might achieve!

Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic