Welcome to Octavia’s Actual Mad Challenge Page

For Team Octavia raising money for the Momentum campaign for THE SMA Trust

This is the Link to the Team Octavia Summary Page

http://www.justgiving.com/Team-Octavia

Yes I know we are bonkers but we are one of a number of teams of people who as part of The MAD! Challenge (Momentum ADventure World Challenge) are trying to raise £1,000,000 for THE SMA TRUST'S Momentum Campaign. There are lots of event being planned including many that are very MAD! At the heart of it is the children with SMA who are all doing challenges themselves and challenging the rest of us to do something as challenging

 

We did it! It was extremely tiring and I did have my moments when I wondered why I was doing it but I am so glad that I did it. Diddy had a long break, but is back to trotting around the village but it’s not quite the same. We had an amazing welcome at Wincanton Race Course and to see the amount of money that has been raised is AMAZING! Thank you again to everybody who has supported us we could not have done it without you.

Now for the not so MAD bit!

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is currently untreatable and often fatal. SMA is the leading genetic killer of infants and toddlers. This deadly genetic defect results from a missing Survival Motor Neurone gene. As the motor neuron network deteriorates, the body loses the ability to send messages to control muscles which then waste away - eventually causing death.

However strong foundations have been laid by researchers for the development of clinical trials and treatment and now is the time to build, gain and maintain the momentum of this research. This is why I feel that it is important to raise the money now, not just for myself but for all future generations who carry the gene that causes this cruel condition. 

Please would you consider sponsoring us?  Huge donations are always welcome, but every pound makes a difference, no amount is too small. This challenge is self funded and ALL contributions will go directly to the SMA Trust and hence to funding research into SMA

If  you do not wish to use the internet then please send cheques payable to The SMA Trust, Compton Scorpion, Shipston on Stour, Warwickshire CV36 4PJ

Otherwise donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

 

What is The SMA Trust?

The SMA Trust is the only charity in the UK dedicated to raising funds for research into Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). SMA is the leading genetic killer of toddlers and babies. SMA affects the motor neurons in the spinal cord, causing muscular weakness, severe disability and premature death. 50% of the most severely diagnosed cases result in death by the age of two. 1 in every 40 people carries the gene that causes this disease (around 1.5million people in the UK).

 

What is the momentum Campaign?

The charity has launched an appeal, the momentum Campaign, to raise £2million for more research into SMA. Researchers believe they are tantalisingly close to finding affective treatments. There has been some considerable progress in research into SMA around the world in recent years and the charity wants to build on, and maintain, that momentum. SMA is currently incurable and untreatable. Research is hope for families affected by this disease.

 

How are we raising money?

As part of The MAD! Challenge ((Momentum ADventure World Challenge) we are trying to raise £1 million this year for The SMA Trust's Momentum Campaign. Children with SMA are undertaking challenges and then challenging their team members to undertake their own challenges.