Chatter - Summer 2009
Tribute to Peter Thompson
Almost forty members and friends of the Branch attended the AGM to acknowledge the retirement of Peter Thompson who was stepping down from the Chairmanship after ten years of outstanding service. Jim Stark, Branch Treasurer, led the tributes.
More than £300,000 had been raised by the Yorkshire Dales during the ten years that Peter was Chairman making the Branch one of top five fund-raisers in the country for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. A staggering £160,000 of this money had been allocated to research.
‘My thanks must go to everyone involved in the fundraising,’ said Peter. ‘We are lucky to have many marvellous people in our Branch.’
Incoming Chairman Tony Gould spoke of the ‘wonderful legacy’ left by Peter.
Looking back on his years, Peter remarked that it had been ‘great fun’ although ‘naturally sad’ due to the nature of MND. He recalled with fondness people with whom he had been particularly involved including Dave Hainsworth, John Jaggs, Dave Cowper-Johnson, Derek Smith and many more.
‘I am proud to say that, on the care side, we never failed to be able to provide support or financial assistance to anyone living with MND,’ said Peter, who particularly thanked the committee for their unstinting work.
Peter was presented with a camera and his wife, Margaret, with flowers.
Professor Pam Shaw
Guest speaker at the AGM was Pam Shaw, Professor of Neurology at the University of Sheffield. Professor Shaw, who complimented Peter on his work as Chairman, also thanked the Branch for their contribution of funds for research at Sheffield.
She told the meeting that there was no ‘magic bullet’ but that progress was being made.
‘We are tackling the complexity of this disease with a multi-disciplinary research team,’ said Professor Shaw. ‘You almost never see MND in a couch potato; being a sporty type is a risk factor. We have to look at factors about our genes and chemistry – genetic factors that make some people’s motor neurones become damaged.’
Professor Shaw spoke of gene expression profiling where a comparison was made between healthy cells and injured cells and how, if ‘you could get inside motor neurones with a pair of binoculars’ scientists can extract all kinds of useful information. She also mentioned the Nano Drop, a crucial piece of equipment for measuring RNA, funded by the Branch, that has been hugely important to aid rigorous quality control during research.
About 80 people, including PhD students funded by the Branch, are working on motor neurone disease at Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield. Professor Shaw told the meeting that a £20 million project was underway to set up the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, which would be dedicated to MND research.
A Time to Remember
October 6th marks the 30th Anniversary of the founding of the MND Association. Branches across the UK are being invited to arrange local commemorations to remember all those affected by MND during that time and to give thanks for all those who have helped to alleviate suffering through care, science or financial contributions.
The Yorkshire Dales Branch will select an appropriate venue/venues, date and time and we will notify you in time to allow you to participate. If you are unable to attend you may wish to note the time so that you can participate in your own way.
Sarah’s Story
A poster campaign on 20 London underground sites in Central London and 80 mainline Railway Stations began for two weeks from 15th June. This coincides with MND awareness week when there is a press launch involving Sarah Ezekiel, the person with MND who is the “body double” in the film commercial of Sarah’s Story, which has already appeared in some cinemas. The poster sites, cinema exposure and production costs, with an estimated value in excess of £250,000, have been provided free of charge.
Although this campaign will certainly have great impact and will raise awareness of MND a few of our members may be upset by its graphic illustration. Nevertheless we took the view that you would rather know about it than be taken by surprise.
More information on Sarah’s Story can be found at www.sarahsstory.org.uk and your feedback, which will be forwarded to National Office, to gould_tony@yahoo.co.uk would be most welcome.
Join us for AGM and annual conference
The event will be held on 12 September at the Park Inn Hotel, Heathrow. The annual conference offers the opportunity to learn more about MND and the care and support available to people living with the disease and their families and friends.
This year people living with MND and one carer will be able to attend without charge. The Branch will consider helping people attend by funding or subsidising accommodation and transport costs. Registration is available at www.mndassociation.org/annualconference. For more details, registration, or information, please contact our conference team on 01604 611822 or email: conference@mndassociation.org
30th Anniversary raffle
As part of the Associations’ 30th Anniversary raffle tickets are now available at £1 a ticket from Anne Pratt or at any of our events running up to the draw on 30th October. If anyone has a suitable venue to sell these please let Anne know. Although tickets are produced by National Office and will be sold nationwide, the Branch can keep all monies raised.
1st prize - £3,500 or a Mediterranean cruise
2nd prize - £500 or a flat screen television and DVD
3rd prize - £250 or a fridge freezer
Plus 27 4th prizes of a digital radio
Fun for all the family
Duck Derby & Country Fair - Sunday 12th July 12.30
Don’t miss this year’s great fund raising event at Blubberhouses Cricket Club. It is an idyllic setting to host our family fun day. As well as the duck race we have loads of side shows and stalls as well as a bar, barbecue, terrier racing, children’s races, welly throwing and much more. £1 buys you a numbered duck to race down the river Washburn and hopefully win you a share of £500 prize money. If you would like tickets please contact Anne Pratt on 01423 867017.
Nelson Lunch
We had a very nice lunch/social event when 10 of our members and friends met at the Nelson Inn on the A59 last Wednesday. The pub is a lovely venue, the food is good and staff very friendly and welcoming, even moving tables around so we could all sit together.
We are hoping that more of you will join us at our next lunches, both venues are wheelchair accessible.
Strikes Garden Centre at Northallerton at 11.30 on Wednesday 12th August.
Nelson Inn A59 at 12.00 on Wednesday 14th October.