The Motor Neurone Disease Team for MND Research at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has raised £4129.25 from their eighth annual walk for Motor Neurone Disease.
Money raised from the walk went towards specialist equipment which will offer MND patients in our area more independence and enhanced quality of life during their illness trajectory. These includes state-of-the art feeding equipment, arm supports and rests, along with pager switch systems. The equipment was purchased through Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity and can be used by patients being cared for in hospital, at home or in a supported living setting.
The event, previously known as the P2B4MND walk, saw around 50 people walk the Guild Wheel – which is 21 miles around the outskirts of Preston, setting off from Broughton Primary School at 8am on Saturday 24th September 2022.
Stops along the route included Starbucks on Bluebell Way, lunch at Christ the King Maths and Computer College and the UCLan Sports Arena before finishing at the scout hut in Broughton around nine hours later, where Prof Chhetri, who heads up the Lancashire and South Cumbria MND care and research centre, at Royal Preston Hospital, thanked all who took part.
The stops were supported by volunteers from Argos, who kindly provided refreshments, along with Roya Armstrong, fundraising manager from Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity, who also doubled up as support vehicles on the day.
The walk has been a popular event, raising vital funds that have helped to support local people with vital specialist equipment, not always supplied or funded by the NHS. Some of the funds have allowed people caring for their loved ones to take a much-needed break, or even fund a wedding. Other funds are directed towards education and local and national research. The funds raised will all be directed towards MND either locally via the Hospital Charity’s section dedicated for people living locally with MND, or nationally through the MNDA, which will fund research.
MND is such a cruel terrible disease which is fatal and has no known cure, leaving people unable to walk, talk, or feed themselves. MND affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time. This means it is considered a relatively rare disease.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Julie Sala said: “We all had a fabulous day and would like to thank everyone who supported us and everyone who took part. We look forward to the next one!”
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity Fundraising Manager, Roya Armstrong added: “This brilliant annual event makes a huge impact, both for educating people about Motor Neurone Disease and raising important funds that support local patient care. Thank you so much to everyone who took part and helped raise such a fabulous amount for a worthy cause.”