News & Events
MND research campaign receives its first million
09 May 2007
The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association has received its largest ever single pledge. The pledge of £1 million, donated in memory of Lady Edith Wolfson who died of MND, will fund the Lady Edith Wolfson Clinical Research Fellowships, a project which will conduct laboratory and clinical research into MND.
The Association’s Research Foundation was launched last year. It aims to raise £15 million to invest in researching MND, with £7.5 million from major donors, supported by a campaign to attract £7.5m worth of matched funding from the Government.
A member of Lady Wolfson’s family first contacted the MND Association after hearing President Lembit Öpik MP calling for greater Government funding of research into MND during Prime Minister’s Questions. For the family, investing in research into the causes of MND was a fitting way to honour Lady Wolfson’s memory and to help in the fight to beat MND.
Throughout her life Lady Wolfson was a philanthropist and hugely energetic charitable worker. She was a founder Trustee of the Wolfson Foundation, a charitable foundation for the advancement of science and medicine, health, education, the arts and humanities.
Talking about the pledge Lembit said: “When I am in the debating chamber it’s often very difficult to really know what effect – if any - that particular debate, or that particular question, has on the individuals watching.
“That’s what makes this so special. My question to the Prime Minister regarding government funding into MND has motivated an extremely kind and committed family to pledge £1 million towards our dream of curing this fatal disease and creating a world free of MND.
“Such a large contribution underlines the importance of our parliamentary campaign to raise the profile of MND. While we depend on the generosity of the human spirit, we also seek support from the Government to match the money we are raising. We’re a million pounds closer to a cure. We hope the Government will be our partners on this exciting journey.”
Contact:
Notes to editors
Lady Edith Wolfson died in 1981 after suffering a prolonged illness from Motor Neurone Disease.
Founder Trustee of the Wolfson Foundation, established in 1955 with her husband, the late Sir Isaac Wolfson who was Chairman of Great Universal Stores (GUS) and her son, Lord Wolfson of Marylebone.
The MND Association’s Research Foundation is committed to raising the funding needed to support national and international research efforts to end MND.
Major donors are able to select and follow progress in particular aspects of MND research.
Funds raised by the Research Foundation will drive science forward, so that a cure can be found and MND will be beaten. Until that day comes, the Research Foundation is equally committed to funding research that improves the lives of people living with MND.
Founder Trustee of the Wolfson Foundation, established in 1955 with her husband, the late Sir Isaac Wolfson who was Chairman of Great Universal Stores (GUS) and her son, Lord Wolfson of Marylebone.
The MND Association’s Research Foundation is committed to raising the funding needed to support national and international research efforts to end MND.
Major donors are able to select and follow progress in particular aspects of MND research.
Funds raised by the Research Foundation will drive science forward, so that a cure can be found and MND will be beaten. Until that day comes, the Research Foundation is equally committed to funding research that improves the lives of people living with MND.
