My colleague Mike Lowe was diagnosed with MDNA in May 2018, please read his story below and support. Thank you

Mike's story:

Twelve months ago, having suffered muscle twitching in my left bicep, I have been having various tests to understand why. The neurologist indicated that Motor Neurone Disease was highly unlikely (so I had done little to research into it) but rather suggested it may be a calcium deficiency. So when I went to attend my next appointment with him I felt I had little to be concerned about. in fact, I drove to the appointment having a conference call with FCR leadership about our anti-bribery comms strategy. so you can imagine my shock walking out 15 mins later, having been told my legs, arms and lungs may or may not stop working, I may lose my voice and I would only likely live for 2-3 years. Having drove home in a daze, one of the first things I did was ring the MND Association. I didn't really know at the time why or what I wanted to ask them, I was just scared by what Google search about MND showed and felt I needed somebody 'in the know' to talk to.

Twelve months on, unfortunately I now have no use of my limbs, the muscles in my neck are wasting making it difficult to keep my head upright, I can only breath thanks to a mechanical ventilator and recently had a feeding tube inserted to my stomach. Whilst all that sounds terrible, and indeed it is, I am able to keep a smile on my face and upbeat in no small part thanks to the MND Association.

The MND Association have been invaluable. They provide practical advice, have put me in touch with other sufferers, and fund a nurse whose role it is to help  me navigate and access the various NHS and local authority support services. On a very practical level, they have provided me with a reclining chair which has eased a great deal of back and neck pain I was suffering and when my inability to obtain travel insurance because of my diagnosis threatened our recent honeymoon, the association put me in touch with insurers happy to provide cover. They also provide great support to my wife, for example carer together meetings, recognising that the well-being of those looking after MND sufferers is all too easily overlooked.

Thanks to the MND Association I feel better informed about my ailment, I'm able to navigate the minefield of support services and continue to lead a (reasonably) full life. Without the generosity of supporters and their donations little of this would be possible and for that I am truly grateful.

Warm regards

Mike