Money raised at Hankelow village Fete

On Sunday 14th June, a glorious sunny day, the village of Hankelow held its annual fete. Each year all monies raised in the raffle is donated to charity.

In recognition of one of the villagers, Mr. Tom Bourne, who has been living with Motor Neurone Disease since October 2001 the organisers decided this year to donate 50% of the proceeds from the raffle totaling £500 to the Cheshire Branch of the MND Association.

Organisers allowed the Branch to run a stall free of charge at the fete, which was manned by members and friends of the Branch, and £55 was raised from the crafts and quality items sold.

The fete was very well attended with stalls selling a range of goods from plants to cakes. There were also activities for the children (and parents) including maypole dancing by Audlem St James School, Musiclands young musicians, and Cheshire Academy Gymnastics. Last but not least there was the 50 yard dash for young and old.

MND sufferer to sail the Atlantic

This year is the 30th anniversary of the MND Association. MND Awareness Week takes place June 20 to 28.

Robert first developed symptoms of this degenerative and incurable disease in September 2007 but was not officially diagnosed until June 08. Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones and leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing. The most famous sufferer is probably theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking. Robert’s speech has been affected and he can’t actually speak at all now. However, he is continuing with plans to sail across the Atlantic in November as part of the ARC Race (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) when he will be in charge of all navigation on his 57ft boat, a Beneteau 57. He will be taking part in the 2,600 mile race from Gran Canaria to St Lucia with four other crew members.

Robert does not have a sponsor for the race, the crew is paying for the trip themselves, but they are looking to raise money for MND and all money they raise will go straight to the charity. Robert tells me that no-one suffering from Motor Neurone Disease has every crossed the Atlantic in this way before.

Awareness Week

June 20 to 28 Motor Neurone Awareness Week

The Motor Neurone Disease Association is posting billboards on many station platforms in the Northwest, including Chester station, as part of the Motor Neurone Awareness Week (June 20 to 28).
The posters will be on display from June 15 for two weeks and show a picture of Sarah Ezekial, who was diagnosed with this debilitating degenerative disease in April 2000 when she was 34 years old and seven months pregnant.
Details are also given on the poster of a link to www.sarahsstory.org.uk, a shocking and disturbing short film which shows the physical deterioration sufferers often undergo. The film was deemed too shocking for TV but was shown in some cinemas in the area (including Vue at Cheshire Oaks) and can now be viewed online.

General information relating to MND

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks the upper and lower motor neurones. Degeneration of the motor neurones leads to weakness and wasting of muscles, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing.
In recent years there is evidence to suggest the incidence of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is increasing. This could possibly be due to more accurate diagnostic testing. Also, as people are generally living for longer, the incidence of a disease more common in older people will continue to increase.

MND Statistics

Motor Neurone Disease is not infectious or contagious.
It can affect any adult at any age but most people diagnosed with the disease are over the age of 40, with the highest incidence occurring between the ages of 50 and 70.
Men are affected approximately twice as often as women.
The incidence or number of people who will develop MND each year is about two people in every 100,000.
The prevalence or number of people living with MND at any one time is approximately seven in every 100,000.

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Arley Hall Gardens

For a press release relating to MND Awareness week and what the MND Association Cheshire Branch is doing at Arley Hall Gardens in Northwich click here. Pics are also available to download.

Hankelow Village Fete

For a short press release on Hankelow Village Fete and how visitors can help the Motor Neurone Association in Cheshire click here. Pictures are also available to download.

Introduction

Hi

I am the volunteer press and PR officer for the Motor Neurone Disease Association's Cheshire branch. I will be writing about this terrible degenerative disease and the work that is being done in Cheshire to raise money to defeat it. I will also be posting information from head office about motor neurone disease generally. If you have any comments to make I would really welcome them.