From Ice Bucket Challenge to Fighting Motor Neurone Disease

In 2015, while living in Dubai, I participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge, a viral campaign to raise awareness for Motor Neurone Disease (MND). I saw it as a fun gesture, unaware of how personal it would become. Shortly after, my sisters contacted me from the UK, concerned about our Grandma Grace Mbengeranwa, who had lost weight and was struggling to walk. I felt a sense of dread.

Grandma Grace was a significant influence in my life. Born in Zimbabwe, she became a midwife in England and later moved to Denmark in the 1960s. She faced challenges as the only Black woman in her town but built a life filled with strength and determination. She taught me about Norse mythology, Scandinavian culture, and the power of language. She introduced me to opera, art, and world cuisine, shaping my understanding of the world. When she was diagnosed with MND, the very illness I had unknowingly supported through the Ice Bucket Challenge, I felt helpless.

The disease's cruelty became apparent quickly. The average life expectancy is short, and it robs patients of their physical abilities while leaving their minds intact. Initially, Grandma Grace retained her wit and humor, but she gradually weakened. Eighteen months after her diagnosis, her mind remained sharp, but her body was failing. She couldn't speak and needed a ventilator. I felt helpless in the face of such a devastating illness. I reached out to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) and offered my help.

I was offered a last-minute place in the 2017 London Marathon and signed up to raise funds for MNDA. Grandma Grace passed away shortly after, wearing my marathon medal. Since then, I've continued to work with the MNDA, becoming an ambassador. The MNDA has partnered with Omaze to offer a chance to win a beachfront house, with proceeds going towards supporting those with MND, campaigning for better care, and funding research. Every contribution brings us closer to ending the suffering caused by MND and honors people like Grandma Grace, who taught me about strength in the face of adversity.