Jason Lusty is just a few weeks away from the challenge of his life. The Business Development Manager from CFH in Westfield is now well into an intense training programme to get him in shape to climb Kenya's Mount Kilimanjaro in June.

He is part of a group of eight friends from the Radstock and Frome areas who are aiming to raise £30,000 in support of the MNDA – Motor Neurone Disease Association.

The trip is being organised in memory of Alistair Banks, who sadly passed away at the age of 42, following a two-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Alistair was Deputy Head at Matravers School in Westbury, Wiltshire and his son is an Under-9 player for Frome Collegians AFC.

Jason says: "The eight of us have an association with Frome Collegians Football Club, as did Alistair, who was an inspiration to all who met him. We are dedicating our climb to Alistair, who was known as 'Alistair the Optimist', helping to raise money for MNDA in order that they can fund their cutting-edge research into the cause and cure of this disease."

Motor Neurone Disease is a fatal neurological disease for which there is no effective treatment and no cure. It kills five people in the UK every day and life expectancy from diagnosis is two to five years – tragically, around half of those die within fourteen months. Today, there are 5,000 people living with MND in this country. The disease attacks the nerves that control movement; people with MND can still think and feel and sufferers end up locked in a failing body, unable to move, walk or talk.

Jason's preparation has included running the Half Marathons in Bath and Cardiff – running the Bath Half with his wife, son, sister and two nephews, as well as the Great South Run. Over the last few months, he has been fitting training in around his job and running around ten miles every weekend.

Jason is enlisting the help of his colleagues at CFH in fundraising – which has included setting up a swear box in the office, attending team fundraising events and individual pledges of support.

"I'm extremely grateful to everyone for supporting me in my challenge," says Jason. "In particular, to everyone at work and especially Dave Broadway, our Managing Director, who has pledged to donate £1,300 which is a third of my personal fundraising target." You can follow the campaign on Facebook page: June2013-KilimanjaroforMNDA or donate via: http://www.justgiving.com/June2013-KilimanjaroforMNDA">www.justgiving.com/June2013-KilimanjaroforMNDA