James's Story
James Hollingworth was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in March 2025. He was 60 years old. He'd spent his career in Bristol as a stonemason, and he'd never so much as sat on a plane.
Eighteen months later — in July 2026 — he jumped out of one.
The Old Sarum skydive was James's idea. He rang the office one Tuesday morning and told our fundraising lead: "I want to do the biggest thing you've ever seen me do. And I want the money to go to the people you help next."
Between James and eleven other jumpers, the day raised £18,400. Every pound goes directly into the fund we use to grant equipment, respite trips, and home adaptations to families across the UK living with MND.
But the money isn't what James wants to be remembered for. When we sat down with him afterwards, he said the jump gave him something the diagnosis had taken away — the feeling that his body could still do a thing worth doing.
That is the work Challenging MND exists for. Not just the wheelchairs and the ramps and the grants — although those matter, and this year we approved £284,000 of them. What matters is the day after the wheelchair arrives. The morning after the ramp is installed. The moment James stepped out of the plane and knew he was still here.
This report is full of those moments. Thank you for being the reason they happen.