News & Events
Lembit Öpik MP invites Government Minister Lord Hunt to take his place in Medical Research History
05 February 2007
The campaign to raise £15m to find a cure for the fatal and heartbreaking illness Motor Neurone Disease stepped up a gear today when MP and President of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, Lembit Öpik, took a request for research funding to the heart of Government.
Lembit, alongside the MND Association Chief Executive Kirstine Knox, and senior King’s College Neurologist Chris Shaw, met with the Minister on Monday to discuss the Association’s business case, urging Government investment of £7.5million into research towards finding a cure for the deadly disease.
After the meeting Lembit said: “In the past, Government spending on MND research has been very low. However, I believe Lord Hunt – and indeed the Prime Minister himself – do recognise the momentous opportunity we have to find the cure for MND. 75 Backbenchers from across all parties have already formally backed our campaign. I hope our meeting today will help persuade the Government to match fund the money the MND Association is raising towards that cure.”
Kirstine Knox added: “The Association aims to raise £15 million by December 2008. We have asked the Government to provide £7.5 million of this funding on the grounds that they will be contributing to the eventual eradication of a cruel and fatal disease that kills more than 1,600 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland annually.
“This administration can be part of the history of ending the disease. Together, the Government and the MND Association can lead the way towards a World Free of MND.”
Lembit, alongside the MND Association Chief Executive Kirstine Knox, and senior King’s College Neurologist Chris Shaw, met with the Minister on Monday to discuss the Association’s business case, urging Government investment of £7.5million into research towards finding a cure for the deadly disease.
After the meeting Lembit said: “In the past, Government spending on MND research has been very low. However, I believe Lord Hunt – and indeed the Prime Minister himself – do recognise the momentous opportunity we have to find the cure for MND. 75 Backbenchers from across all parties have already formally backed our campaign. I hope our meeting today will help persuade the Government to match fund the money the MND Association is raising towards that cure.”
Kirstine Knox added: “The Association aims to raise £15 million by December 2008. We have asked the Government to provide £7.5 million of this funding on the grounds that they will be contributing to the eventual eradication of a cruel and fatal disease that kills more than 1,600 people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland annually.
“This administration can be part of the history of ending the disease. Together, the Government and the MND Association can lead the way towards a World Free of MND.”
