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Kev Darby alongside his brother Stephen and Martyn Clarke(Image: Martyn Clarke)

Stephen Darby's brother, Kev Darby, has issued a "massive thank you" to a man who is set to take on a huge challenge to raise funds for the motor neurone disease community.

Motor neurone disease (MND) affects a person’s brain and nerves and can cause weakness in a person’s ankles and legs, a weak grip, and slurred speech.

He will move up North to Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Tyne & Wear, with his final stretch at the Rob Burrow Leeds Marathon on Sunday, May 11.

When he arrives in Liverpool, Martyn will be running for his friend Stephen Darby, a former professional footballer who was diagnosed with MND in 2018.

Martyn hopes to honour his courageous fight with MND as well as his Liverpool FC legacy.

Stephen also co-founded The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, which funds and assists research into the illness and supports those living with MND.

It is named after Stephen himself, as well Aintree-born Chris Rimmer, who served in the RAF and died aged 38 after his MND diagnosis.

Martyn's journey through Merseyside will pass through Bramley-Moore, Lark Lane Ladies FC, Goodison Park and finally finish off at Anfield.

Stephen's brother Kev Darby, 41 has spoken to the ECHO ahead of the event.

The actors were part of a hard-hitting storyline on the soap as Peter's character, Paul, sadly died with MND.

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Martyn hopes to raise £17,777 for four charities supporting the fight against motor neurone disease, including The Darby Rimmer Foundation, the Motor Neurone Disease Association, The Mel Evans MBE Foundation, and Leeds Hospitals Charity’s Rob Burrow Centre.

You can offer any support to his fundraising page here.