Motor Neurone Disease Association

The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND Association) is a British charity, operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, established in 1979 by a group of volunteers to coordinate care, support, and research for people affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is a form of motor neurone disease (MND) (also known as Charcot disease, ALS or, in the United States, Lou Gehrig's disease).

Motor Neurone Disease Association
Founded6 October 1979 (1979-10-06)
TypeCharitable organisation
Registration no.England: 294354
FocusMotor neuron disease, health policy
Location
  • David Niven House, 10–15 Notre Dame Mews, Northampton, NN1 42BG
Area served
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Members
9,000
Employees
170
Volunteers
7,000
Websitewww.mndassociation.org

The Association's chief executive is Sally Light and its president is neuroscientist Sir Colin Blakemore. The Royal Patron of the association is The Princess Royal.

The patrons of the Association are former English cricketer and current ICC official Chris Broad; entrepreneur and philanthropist Joel Cadbury, actor Benedict Cumberbatch CBE; palliative medicine consultant and parliamentarian Baroness Finlay of Llandaff; neuroscientist, broadcaster, author and parliamentarian Baroness Greenfield CBE; TV presenter Charlotte Hawkins; entrepreneur and philanthropist Jamie Niven; former land-speed record holder and entrepreneur Richard Noble; OBE actor Eddie Redmayne and OBE and TV/radio presenter Jeremy Vine.

The Association had previously been supported by the neurologist and four-minute-mile record breaker Sir Roger Bannister and cosmologist and theoretical physicist Professor Stephen Hawking CH CBE (who had lived with MND for many years) until their deaths in March 2018.

The ambassadors of the MND Association are actor Joss Ackland OBE; actress Gina Bellman; actor Taron Egerton; comedian and TV presenter Olivia Lee and TV presenter Natalie Pinkham.

The association is the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that funds and promotes global research into the disease and provides support for people affected by Motor Neurone Disease. It is a membership organisation with over 9,000 members forming a national and local network that provides information and support alongside fighting for improved services. It has over 7,000 active volunteers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and around 170 paid staff, whose specialist skills and knowledge are dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by MND.

Further information can be found on their website as well as further key facts and information

Vision[1]

A world free from MND

Mission[2]

Improve care and support for people with MND, their families and carers.

Fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments, and brings us closer to a cure for MND.

Campaign and raise awareness so the needs of people with MND and everyone who cares for them are recognised and addressed by wider society.

Activities
Benedict Cumberbatch has been an ambassador of the Motor Neurone Disease Association since 2004.[3]

Research

The Motor Neurone Disease Association funds and promotes research to understand what causes MND, how to diagnose it and, most importantly, how to effectively treat it so that it no longer devastates lives. It does this by:

  • Funding research
  • Coordinating research through conferences and symposia

The MND Association organises the International Symposium on ALS/MND, an annual event which brings together leading international researchers and health and social care professionals to present and debate innovations in their fields.

The MND Association funds research that includes animal testing.[4][5]

Care and information
  • Provide information to patients and carers
  • Provide care through a network of branches and regional care advisers

Fundraising
  • Fundraising and income generating activities
  • The association has 89[6] volunteer branches and groups across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, that assist with regional fundraising activities
  • The association benefits from legacies and also tribute funds, which are left in the memory of people affected by the disease.

Awareness and campaigns

The association has a campaigns network that helps shape a better future for people with neurological conditions such as MND. It does this by:

References
  1. "MND Association website".
  2. "MND Association Website".
  3. "Press Office - Hawking Benedict Cumberbatch". BBC.co.uk. 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  4. "Models of MND". MNDassociation.org. 2015-05-16. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  5. "Health Charities and Animal Testing". Animalaid.org.uk. Retrieved 2015-05-20.
  6. "Key Messages" (PDF).
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