'Mum thought she had foot issues– but it was MND'

When Lynne Gittins decided to get a problem with her foot checked out, she had no idea that it would lead to a diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

The 70-year-old from Norfolk is now living with the worsening effects of the degenerative disease, and, like many, she did not recognise the earlier symptoms.

Now her son Tom Waterhouse, has walked 100 miles in a 33-hour non-stop walk across Norfolk, raising more than £5,000 to help boost awareness of the disease and find better ways to diagnose it.

Mr Waterhouse, 40, said his mother may have had the condition for some time before she was diagnosed, adding: "She had a dodgy foot which wasn't too much of an issue, she walked with a stick for a while, we put it down to bad circulation or nerve issue."

MND is a neurological condition that affects the nerves controlling movement. It causes progressive muscle weakness, which can affect how a person walks, talks, eats, drinks, swallows and breathes.

According to the NHS, some of the key signs may include stiff or weak hands, weak legs and feet, twitches, spasms or muscle cramps.

In 2024, rugby league star and high-profile MND campaigner Rob Burrow died after living with the illness since being diagnosed in 2019.

Mother-of-three, Mrs Gittins, who lives in Lyng, can no longer walk and struggles to use her hands and arms.

However, Mr Waterhouse said they still enjoy trips to the beach and that his mother is "an amazing nanny to my two kids and she will continue to fight".

He said the amount of testing involved in getting a diagnosis had been a frustrating process, but added the north Norfolk MNDA (Motor Neurone Disease Association) team had been "incredible."

He said: "They treat her with dignity and a bit of humour, which goes a long way".

Mrs Gittins added: "All (the) nurses visit me at home which is easier than hospital visits, and have become good friends."

She said they also support her husband, also called Tom, who "has the hardest job every day".

The money from his walk last weekend was raised for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, which was set up by former Scotland rugby star Doddie Weir who died in 2022.

Despite "massively underestimating how hard it would be" and ending up with his feet "in bits", Mr Waterhouse said the amount he raised made it all worth it, adding that his mother is "a real hero".

He said: "This was a huge motivator for me when I was walking. My feet will get better, unfortunately, my mum's feet won't get better."

Paul Thompson, from the foundation praised Waterhouse's challenge, and said donations help them to fund vital research into the disease.

He said: "Stories like this remind us of the strength of the MND community. To walk 100 miles non-stop is a huge test of physical and mental endurance, but it's clear Tom was driven by something far greater: his love for his mum. "

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