Even if the cause of and cure for the disease is found, people with MND and their carers will need help.
Gerald Carrington
In 2004 as a retired teacher I was looking for voluntary work and booked an interview with Voluntary Services. After discussing my interests, the interviewer rang the chairman of the local MND Association. My main concern was very much with Motor Neurone Disease and began when my son, Alistair was diagnosed with it. The chairman, Phil Gilbert, said he would be pleased to meet me at their next meeting. I joined the North Beds Branch and recently received the Association’s five year, long service award.
Alistair sadly died in October 2006 aged 50. An article about him and his wife, Pauline, appeared in an edition of Thumb Print in about 2004 or 2005.
There is an interesting Tribute Fund to him http://alistair.carrington.muchloved.com/
My role on the committee is varied. My family has willingly been involved in the branch activities. Over the years they have collected over one thousand pounds through their connections with schools and business people. They have also helped with collections at supermarkets. I have attended several school assemblies with the chairman in the interest of the branch and supported many meetings arranged by the association.
Research into MND is extremely important and this can only be done with funds to support it. I am still with the Association because funds are always needed and I think always will be. Even if the cause of and cure for the disease is found, people with MND and their carers will need help.
Our meetings are always friendly, sociable events. I would recommend joining the MND Association to others because we need to make the public more aware and increase their knowledge of MND.
Motor Neurone Disease does not get the publicity in the press and on television that some other charities do.
