The Hartlepool 75-year-old walking 100 miles in memory of her beloved husband who fought Motor Neurone Disease

Brian Hamilton who died of MND three years ago.

Sandra Hamilton, 75, is tackling 10 miles a day around the town in memory of her husband Brian who died three years ago this month from motor neurone disease (MND).

She praised Brian as a man who ‘kept his wicked sense of humour right until the very end’.

Sandra began her quest on Sunday which was the third anniversary of Brian’s death. He died 11 months after his diagnosis, aged 75.

Sandra gets ready for one of her walks, with daughters Jayne Donkin, Michelle Moran, grandson Ryan Marshall, and Archie the dog for company.

She said: “He was a really fit and energetic man and this disease took away what he had."

Brian fell ill in Bulgaria in September 2016 and Sandra said they originally thought he had had a stroke.

On their return home they paid privately to see someone at James Cook hospital before he was diagnosed.

"It started with his breathing and he wondered if he’d had some sort of industrial disease such as asbestosis. We got it checked out and eventually was diagnosed with MND,” said Sandra.

Sandra Hamilton who is walking 100 miles to raise money and awareness after her husband Brian died of MND.

Motor neurone disease is a condition that affects the brain and nerves and gets worse over time. It can affect the way people breathe, walk, how they talk and how they eat and drink.

But each person’s case is different. In Brian’s case, despite his condition, he “still had the most wicked sense of humour through all of it,” said Sandra. "He kept his dignity and he tried his very best to stay bright.”

Mother-of-two Sandra told of the importance of putting MND in the spotlight, especially at a time when the world has learned more about the disease through the BBC documentary on Rob Burrow, the former rugby league star.

Back in 2018, Sandra and daughters Michelle Moran and Jayne Donkin, appealed to Hartlepool Borough Council to adopt the Motor Neurone Disease Charter.

The council’s Adult Services Committee supported the adoption of the charter.

Then last year, Sandra, Michelle and Jayne were invited to the House of Commons to lend support to the Motor Neurone Disease Association which called on Parliament to change the benefits system for terminally ill people.

Sandra has also taken on fundraising challenges over the years including tackling an inflatable obstacle course in 2018.

Now comes her latest challenge in which she will walk 100 miles in two weeks. Her fundraising aim was £1,000 but she has already smashed that and the total stands at more than £1,300.

To support her cause, visit here.

Sandra added: “It is ten days of walking with a couple of rest days in between. It was pure coincidence that we launched this two days apart from the documentary on Rob Burrow. But I do think that people should know about the disease. I feel so strongly about it.

"And I am already overwhelmed with the way people have responded to the fundraising.”

Six people a day in the UK are diagnosed with the terminal condition which attacks sufferers’ ability to move, talk and eventually breathe.

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