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LocationHertfordshire
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ContactHetty Smith and Christine Carter
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Phone
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Welcome to the Hertfordshire Branch
Welcome to the Hertfordshire branch of the MND Association. We are here to provide you, your family and the community a broad range of support, as you live with this disease.
This includes friendship, access to various resources, regular contact opportunities, fundraising activities and support for National campaigns highlighting awareness of and the impact of MND.
The Branch is run entirely by volunteers and provides a vital link between the National Association and the local Hertfordshire community. Our aim is to make a positive difference to people affected by MND by:
- Visiting with those living with MND, providing support and information to you and your carers.
Trained Association Visitors attached to the Branch provide personal and direct contact with those living with MND. They offer support, help, and guidance to those living with MND and their families. They can help with navigating the way through the health and social care system.
- Fundraising to pay for equipment not provided elsewhere, and to contribute to things that provide quality of life such as transport, therapies or holiday costs.
- Raising awareness of the disease through the local media, our newsletters and this website.
- Playing an active part in networking and building relationships locally with health and social care professionals, to influence and improve services for people with MND.
- Holding regular, informal Open Meetings where people with MND, their carers and families have various opportunities to meet other people living with the disease and share experiences.
If you are interested in volunteering with us to help make a difference to people living with MND in Hertfordshire, please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you are living with MND or are a family member/carer, we are able to provide support and advice – please get in touch.
Contact Details:
For those living in North Herts (north of Hatfield), please contact Christine Carter:
Email- christine.carter@mndassociation.org. Tel: 01462 883450/07935 724384
For those living in South Herts (south of Hatfield), please contact Hetty Smith:
Email - hetty.smith@mndassociation.org. Tel: 01462 630195/07930 462870
Annual report
Please find the Hertfordshire branch 2025 annual report here.
Fundraising
We enjoy raising funds for our local Branch to help with the care of local people affected by MND and to provide support for carers and families.
A variety of fund-raising activities have been carried out throughout the years, including :
- Collections at local supermarkets and train stations
- Street collections in local towns
- Bric-a-brac Stalls
- Attendance at local events, such as Stevenage Day
- Quiz Nights
- Musical Concerts
Upcoming Events
Latest News
For more information about the different events and activities organised by the branch in order to provide support, raise awareness, and fundraise on behalf of people living with MND, please read our latest newsletter or contact us.
A message from the chair
Like many people, I find change challenging and take comfort in familiarity and
routine. However, since becoming the Hertfordshire Branch covering the whole
county, the Committee has been reviewing our meeting locations to ensure we are
doing the very best we can to support everyone living with, or affected by MND
across Hertfordshire and feel that some changes are needed.
After much discussion, we have decided to move our regular meetings from Box
Moor Trust Centre to Burston Garden Centre and to change the meeting date to
the second Thursday of each month. We hope this change will make it easier for
more people to attend, as well as allowing the Committee to better support Lesley
and Jenny, who have so kindly hosted the Box Moor meetings.
The final meeting at Box Moor took place at the beginning of May, and our first
meeting at Burston Garden Centre will be on Thursday 11 June at 2.00pm.
We very much hope you can join us there. We also hope to see as many of you as possible at our Annual Walk at Stanborough Lakes on Saturday 11th July.
Baldock and Letchworth Folk Festival
Baldock and Letchworth Folk Festival will take place at Letchworth Rugby Club
from Thursday 23rd until Sunday 26th July. It will feature many local acts and some
from further afield. Organised by Brian Burke, one of our dedicated supporters, this
event will be raising money for our Branch. So do come along and enjoy some great music.
Hertfordshire Branch 5th Annual Walk
Saturday 11th July at 11.00am (registration from 10.30am) - join us for a lovely walk around the North Side lake.
At Stanborough Lakes, North Side, Stanbourough Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6DF.
Suitable for walkers with dogs and those in wheelchairs. Donations of £10 per person or £20 for a family of four.
For more information please email: hetty.smith@mndassociation.org
Past Events
Hertfordshire Keep Fit Association
On Saturday 21st March, Lindsey and Heather attended the Annual General Meeting of
the Hertfordshire Keep Fit Association (KFA), where they were formally presented with
a cheque for £2,000 by Molly Steventon, President of Herts Keep Fit. We are sincerely
grateful to the Hertfordshire KFA for selecting Hertfordshire MND as their chosen charity
over the past two years and for their outstanding support.
Cycle Ride
Phil Adams set off on the 13th April to cycle from Stevenage in Herts to Pinoso, a
village near Alicante, in Spain to raise funds for MND research. This is a cycle of about
1,300 miles and as if that isn't hard enough, he is doing it on a Brompton folding bike.
Phil is doing this as the wife of his ex-colleague and long-time friend, Rob, was diagnosed
with MND in May 2025. There was an enthusiastic crowd attending, including Stuart
and Grant from Herts MNDA, as Phil departed from Rob's workplace in Stevenage
in bright sunshine.
The trip will last about four weeks and Phil has already raised in excess of £14,000 for
MND research at the time of writing.
His JG page is https://www.justgiving.com/page/phil-adams-
We hope the good weather lasts for Phil and that he has a safe and enjoyable
journey south. Grant
Our walk to D'feet recap
The weather was far more kind to us in 2025 after giving us a good drenching in 2024. A total of 31 supporters attended the Walk at Stanborough Lakes in Welwyn and had the pleasure of a gentle one-mile stroll around the North Lake. Some familiar faces as well as new ones joined us along with several of our four-legged friends. The local wildlife were out in numbers; Swans, Ducks, Moor Hens, Coots and Geese including a number of Goslings being held in firm control by their mum.
There was a Raffle held where, not surprisingly, the prosecco and cake prizes were the first to go and overall the day raised in excess of £500 for the Branch. Special mention to the family of our Committee Member, Hetty, who turned out in numbers to support the walk and as ever many thanks to all those who came along for a coffee, a chat and a walk to support the Hertfordshire Branch.
MND Connect
MND Connect is more than just a helpline. MND Connect offers people access to a quick route to get advice, practical and emotional support and directing to other services and agencies.
MND Connect is available 9am till 4pm Mondays to Fridays. Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and are confidential and do not appear on itemised bills.
The service is for:
- People living with MND
- Carers
- Family members
- Health and Social Care Professionals
- MND Association staff and volunteers.
MND Connect can:
- Give information about MND and how to cope with symptoms
- Give medical, social, practical and financial information
- Offer help and advice
- Put you in touch with an Association Visitor, local Branch/Group or Regional Care Development Adviser
- Advise on the services the MND Association can offer
- Send you leaflets and information sheets
- Put you in touch with other appropriate services
MND Connect is made up of a team of experienced staff and volunteers who work closely with our local and regional services.
Contact MND Connect on 0808 8026262 or email : mndconnect@mndassociation.org
Branch Committee
Chairperson - Lindsey Lucas
Vice Chair and Secretary - Stuart Barrett
Treasurer - Heather Hurley
Branch Contact - Chris Carter (North Hertfordshire): 01462 338450 & Hetty Smith (South Hertfordshire): 07930 462870
Committee Member - Maria Watson
Committee Member - Grant Cameron
