Chris Johnson steps towards retirement
25 September 2020
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Johnson is determined to complete his mission to walk 5,000 steps for charity when he leaves Force headquarters for the last time this afternoon.
Chris is retiring today after 29 years’ service and aims to finish his challenge in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) and for the 5,000 people in the UK living with the illness.
He was interviewed on ITV’s Good Morning Britain at the start of his retirement day by Charlotte Hawkins, who is a patron of MNDA and lost her Dad to the disease.
Chris said: “The steps are tough. I’ve had two weeks to do them. I set myself a target of doing 350 to 400 a day.
“I’m on track to finish today. My ambition is to leave our headquarters building at Lloyd House this afternoon and complete my 5,000 steps to help mark that moment.”
MNDA is encouraging an army of fund-raisers to cover 5,000 miles – a mile for every person living with MND in the UK – during the five-week Mission 5,000 challenge. People are being urged to run, walk, swim, cycle or even scoot to add to the total.
The charity expects to lose more than £2 million this year due to the cancellation of community, sporting and fund-raising events because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chris said: “That pain and discomfort is nothing compared to hopefully raising awareness around motor neurone disease
“Every step I take is for everyone across the country who is currently living with that disease. It’s a great initiative by the MNDA to raise awareness and to raise the funds that are missed through the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Chris was diagnosed with motor neurone disease – which affects the brain, spinal cord and nerves that stops muscles functioning – in autumn 2018, six months after being promoted to Assistant Chief Constable.
And he told Good Morning Britain that he’s determined to keep fighting for his family.
“You can’t choose much with this disease,” he said. “There’s no known cause and no known cure, and your life-time chance of getting it is one in 300.
“If you dwell on that sort of stuff, I think it would bring you down. So, the only thing you can control is how you choose to face it.
“I’m determined not to be defined by the disease and to keep fighting every day, one for myself but, more importantly, for Sharon and the children.
“I’m determined to be here for as long as possible.”
Find out more about Mission 5,000
A fund-raising appeal set up in the ACC’s name has already raised almost £25,000 which will be split between MNDA and Primrose Hospice in Bromsgrove which is supporting Chris and his family.
