Motor neurone disease disrupts the messages from the motor neurones which tell your muscles what to do. This leads the muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste, which can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. Some people also get changes to their thinking and behaviour, but the disease affects everyone differently. Symptoms progress at varying speeds and is life- shortening, which makes the course of the disease difficult to predict.

MND affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time. There is a 1 in 300 risk of getting MND across a lifetime. It can affect adults of any age, but is more likely to affect people over 50.

MND is life-shortening and there is currently no cure. Although the disease will progress, symptoms can be managed to help achieve the best possible quality of life. The MNDA do great work supporting those with MND, their families and carers to  achieve the best possible quality of life, as well as investing in ground breaking research for the diagnosis, treatment and a cure for MND.

For more information a recent BBC documentary on professional rugby player Rob Burrows who was diagnosed with MND can be seen here which shows the devastating effects this disease has.

£300 could fund lab equipment for six days' vital research into understanding the causes of MND.

£120 could fund a specialist app to help someone with MND continue to communicate for a year.

£100 could support a team of researchers to make the next key breakthrough

£50 could help fund MND Support Grants, giving a person with MND more independence.

£20 could help train an Association Visitor to give support to a person living with MND.

Please support the team in the Santa Fun Run, however large or small your donation it will make a difference to those living with MND and their families and help fund vital research.

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