A CHARITY which supports local people with motor neurone disease (MND) has been named as Broadacres’ charity of the year. 

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a fatal rapidly progressing disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, attacking the nerves that control movement so muscles no longer work. It kills a third of people within a year and more than half within two years of diagnosis.

And with so much uncertainty around Covid-19, Broadacres has pledged to support the Richmondshire and Hambleton group of MND Association for two years.

The group was chosen after Broadacres asked its staff to nominate charities for 2020/21.

Four charities were put forward and Broadacres’ senior management team then made a final decision based on this short-list.

It means the Richmondshire and Hambleton group of the MND Association will now benefit from all fundraising events held by Broadacres.

The main event is a charity golf day held at Rockliffe Hall in October. Broadacres are still waiting to hear if this year’s event can go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions, so it has decided to make the local group of the MND Association its chosen charity for the next two years.

The Richmondshire and Hambleton Group of the MND Association is run entirely by volunteers and supports people with MND, their families, and carers.

Hilary Maddren, who leads the group, said: “We’re delighted that Broadacres have chosen to support us over the next few years.

“It couldn’t have come at a better time as, like all charities, our fundraising efforts have been severely curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The money they will raise will make a huge difference to our work, from helping to buy equipment which can make day-to-day living easier for people with motor neurone disease, through to providing respite support to carers.”

Gail Teasdale, Chief Executive of Broadacres, said: “This is a great example of a locally based charity helping people in the communities where we have homes, and we’re pleased to have been able to pledge our support for the next two years.

“We didn’t want Covid-19 to affect our fundraising so by making MNDA Richmondshire and Hambleton our charity until 2022, it gives us more time to raise as much as we can.” 

More information on MNDA Richmondshire and Hambleton is available at; www.mndassociation.org/support-and-information/local-support/branches/hambleton-and-richmondshire-group/

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