MUSICIANS from the Royal Marines Band Service are raising money for charity after after their friend and colleague was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in January.

Sophie Ward, from Warminster, who joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 2020 as a flautist and saxophonist, was diagnosed with MND aged 26 after raising concerns about her health, months after marrying her husband, Rich.

Since then, her friends have been determined to show their support by taking part in their own #26forSoph challenges to raise money for the Royal Marines Charity, Dorothy House Hospice Care and the MND Association. So far, the team has raised more than £62,000.

Band Lance Corporal Catherine Edington said: “Sophie has been incredibly resilient and defiant of her diagnosis, never giving up and never letting its progress get in the way of enjoying life. However, the speed of her deterioration is shocking.

“We as her friends and Royal Marine family wanted to demonstrate our support and following the wishes of her and her husband Rich, launched #26forSoph in June to raise money for the charities which have been supporting them. 

“Individually, and in small teams, we have been completing a challenge of 26 ‘somethings’ for Sophie. This might be running 26 miles, collectively cycling 2,600 km, or walking 26,000 steps a day. Some will be climbing 26 mountains, while others endure 26 hours of rowing.

“The main beneficiary, receiving 70 per cent of the funds, is the RMA - The Royal Marines Charity, as they have been directly helping Sophie and the family personally and financially."

Dorothy House Hospice and the MND Association will each get fifteen per cent of the total raised.

MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing disease which affects the brain and spinal cord. It can affect a person’s ability to walk, talk, eat and ultimately to breathe. A third of people die within a year of diagnosis and half within two years. There is currently no effective treatment and no cure. 

Deborah Armantrading, of MNDA, said: “We are so grateful for everything the team from the Royal Marines Band Service is doing to support the Association’s work and to Sophie and her husband Rich for choosing to help us in this way.

“Everyone at the MND Association wishes the team the very best of luck with their challenges.”

To make a donation to #26forSoph visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/26forsoph .