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Charity hails swimmer who has motor neurone disease

Mark O'Brien Mark O'Brien swimming front crawl in a poolMark O'Brien
MND sufferer Mark O'Brien has been praised for his swimming and fundraising

A charity has praised a 55-year-old man who is claiming swimming records and raising thousands of pounds while living with a terminal disease.

The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) said Mark O’Brien, from Slip End, Bedfordshire, was raising awareness about the illness and showing what those living with the condition could achieve.

Last year Mr O'Brien, who was diagnosed with MND in 2022, claimed a record for the longest unaided open water swim for a person living with MND and on Sunday he claimed two sprint records.

A MNDA spokeswoman said: "Mark is showing what can be achieved and raising awareness and money and research."

Mark O'Brien Mark O'Brien smiling at the camera photographed outside, wearing a black sleeveless wetsuit. Mark O'Brien
Mark O'Brien has raised thousands of pounds for the MDNA

MNDA explains on its website how MND affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord and can produce a range of symptoms.

A number of high-profile sportsmen have lived with the condition.

Former Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain rugby league star Rob Burrow died in June after being diagnosed with MND in late 2019.

Ex-Scotland rugby union international Doddie Weir aged 52 in November 2022, six years after being diagnosed with MND.

Former Leeds United and England football manger Don Revie, who played for Manchester City and England, died of MND in 1989, aged 61.

PA Media Rob Burrow in dark glasses smiling at the cameraPA Media
Former rugby league star Rob Burrow died in June after being diagnosed with MND in 2019

"MND is a terminal illness - that's a really difficult pill to swallow," said the MNDA spokeswoman.

"Mark is showing what can be achieved and raising awareness and money and research."

She added: "Swimming when you have MND is very difficult. People have weakness in their limbs and hands - and can suffer much more from cramping."

Mark O'Brien Mark O'Brien smiling while standing in a swimming poolMark O'Brien
Mark O'Brien has claimed a number of MND swimming records

On Sunday Mr O'Brien claimed a record for the fastest 50m freestyle for a person living with MND - 36.10 seconds - in Luton.

He then travelled to Ireland and claimed a 100m freestyle record - one minute 29 seconds - in Dublin.

In September, he swam 6.8 miles (11 km) at Denham, Buckinghamshire, to set a long-distance open water record.

The MNDA spokeswoman said records had to be verified by Guinness Word Records.

A fundraising page shows that Mr O'Brien has raised more than £20,000 for the MNDA.

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