Hello, we are Southampton University Women’s Rugby Football Club (SUWRFC) and we are running a charity rugby tournament and charity evening event in aid of The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

Motor neurone disease is a progressive degenerative disease. It affects the brain, spinal cord and the motor neurones which are responsible for sending messages to the muscles. The disease causes the messages from the motor neurones to gradually stop reaching the muscles, this causes muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste away. This can affect the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe, it can also cause cognitive decline. MND is ultimately life-shortening, it kills a third of people within a year and more than half within two years of diagnosis. Sadly, there is still no cure for the disease.

There is a strong rugby link as multiple high-profile rugby players have been diagnosed in recent years. Notably the legend Doddie Weir, who has unfortunately passed away from the disease, he was an idol to many and members of our club really felt this loss.

It is also a cause very close to our hearts. Multiple members of our club have personal links with family members being affected, one of our club members lost her Dad in August after he was diagnosed in 2021. This disease is devestating to the person and their family, we have seen the effects this had on our own club members and we are very keen to support them and raise money and awareness.

The MNDA does all it can to care for, and provide support to, those who have the disease and their families and carers. The MNDA funds and promotes research that is trying to help develop a cure and treatments. All the money we raise goes to the MNDA and this is an idea of what that money could do

· £10 provides an information pack for a newly diagnosed person

· £75 funds an MND expert researcher for half a day

· £550 could provide a tablet device with communication software, providing the ability to
communicate with loved ones.

We thank for taking the time to read this and appreciate any level of support you can give, SUWRFC 💙🧡