A man living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is set to make history when he becomes the first wheelchair-user to set the pace at an annual run.

Former marathon runner David Baker was diagnosed with MND in July 2023.

But he doesn't let his diagnosis stand in the way of his passion, regularly taking part in charity walks and runs with the help of his wife and carer, Alice, who pushes him in a specially-adapted wheelchair.

And in their latest show of inspiration, the pair will set the pace at this year's Great South Run in Portsmouth.

"She's my rock," Mr Baker, from Southampton, told the BBC.

"She's an absolute machine. I'm very grateful that she can do that for me and it keeps me involved in the sport."

The pair hope their team-effort approach to the event will inspire others to do the same.

"We've done lots of practice and we think we've got it down," Mrs Baker said.

Former marathon runner David Baker and his team

The couple keep a blog about their life with MND, entitled "MND Can Get In The Sea, which they described as "very honest, sad, happy, but real".

Mr Baker said: "I went from running marathons to getting slower and slower, to running parkruns, to walking parkruns."

However, 18 months ago, the pair started assisted running together, and they have since taken part in more than 50 parkruns.

The pair said they were inspired by former Rugby League player, Rob Burrow, who died in 2024 aged 41 after being diagnosed with MND five years earlier.

David Baker updates his blog regulaly with his progress

Alice told the BBC: "It was seeing Rob Burrow doing the Leeds Marathon in his running chair and Kevin Sinfield picking him up and carrying him over the finish line.

"If we hadn't have seen that on the telly I wouldn't have known you could push someone with MND in a wheelchair.

"So it's thanks to that video clip that we're now doing exactly the same thing."

Between them, they have next set their sights on the Leeds Marathon, which is now named after Rob Burrow.

As a result of the run, the pair have developed a team around them who support their runs.

Alice said: "It's the friendships, the social side of things that we really love. And it's really important for Dave's mental health to be able to get outside in the sun and take part in sport."

"It gets me out of the house, that's the thing," David said. "We want to show that sport is all-inclusive."

"We encourage each other," Alice added.

She continued: "Dave really encourages me up the hills, he's constantly telling me I'm doing a great job even when I'm doing a rubbish job."