Our Operations Manager Andrew Barnes is set to take on a sizeable challenge in walking the Yorkshire 3 Peaks in 12 hours for Motor Neurone Disease Association because his long time friend Phil Stephenson has MND.

More details on this can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/teamstevo8yorkshire3peakschallenge

The Story

We are part of team Stevo8 who are raising vital funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association by taking on the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge on 16th March 2019.

This is an epic challenge climbing Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, it’s a gruelling 24 miles with a 5200ft ascent at its highest, it takes around 12 hours to complete.

Thank you to our walkers/climbers..

Leigh Burrow, Mark Schofield, Andy Stephenson, Trevor Bairstow, Mick Gillard, Chris Parr, Kate Parr, John Parkinson, Amy Parkinson, Marie Parkinson, Chris Parkinson, Joanne Rogers, Harvey Rogers, Daniel Richardson, Nicola Richardson, Eddie Harney, Lizzie Harney, Nadia Stewart, Tim Roberts, Claire Duffy, Paul Duffy, Graeme Rogers, Chris Parkinson-Maude, Diane Parkinson-Maude, Luka Pickford, Scott Pendlebury, Andrew Barnes, Lydia Barnes, Lisa Gardner, Rachel Harney and Karen Stephenson.

Our friend Phil Stephenson, was sadly diagnosed with the terminal Motor Neurones Disease in June 2017 at the age of 44.

We are at the 18 month point from diagnosis. Phil can no longer use his arms. His legs are affected and he is using a wheelchair, his voice is becoming laboured, with struggling to form some words and sounds.

MND will take everything from you, your body, arms, legs, voice. It will take the things we take for granted like being able to hold your head up, to swallow food and drink, to talk, to laugh. It will take your future, your plans for growing old, seeing your children grow up, becoming a grandparent.

MND is a cruel disease, currently there is no cure. Life expectancy from diagnosis is 2-5 years. One day with this vital fundraising there will be. Sadly Phil won’t be with us when the cure comes, it won’t happen in his lifetime but for us as TeamStevo8, when the cure does come.. We will know we contributed, we did all we could in honour of him.

Phil is father to our 3 children Jamie, Laura and Jack. He is a retired Rugby League player, spending much of his career at Keighley Cougars and Clayton ARLFC, during this time Phil gained many fans through his game ethic, always working hard, never giving in, no ego, positivity, always cheerful, this is how he is facing MND… despite the devastating news, Phil is living life to the full, moving forward, still giving to others, he has time for everyone and still cheerful, spreading laughter to everyone, he is one of life’s great people, much loved and respected by all who are lucky to know him.

Phil will tell you ‘if you can still laugh, it’s okay’ and what a laugh he has, all who know him, love his deep chuckle xx

TeamStevo8 is a group of amazing people (family and friends) inspired by Phil to raise funds for the MNDA, one day with this vital fundraising we will find a cure or treatment for this disease.

We have raised over £26,000 since Phils diagnosis in June 2017 for the MNDA and there is no stopping us.

We have done so many things to get to the 25K.. Recently 23 of us ran the Great North Run in September 2018. We’ve had Race Nights, Abba Nights, Raffles, School Nights, Fancy Dress Pub Crawls, Rugby Games, Cake Sales, Half Marathons (Phil ran Manchester in October 2017 after he was diagnosed…amazing), Head Shaves, Sponsorship for Motorbike events. We even had money donated from some of our wonderful friends Wedding, who had asked guests to donate instead of gifts.

Thank you everyone you’re amazing, you’re support and generosity is overwhelming.

We are going to help find the cure/treatment for MND one day.