Phil's Motor Neurone Disease Fightback
Donation protected
In 2019, I was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease,(MND).
When I received the diagnosis, with a life expectancy prognosis of between months and two years, I knew my life, my family's life and all our future plans, would change drastically. Our thoughts on retirement would now have to have the devastating diagnosis of MND factored in to them. Having lost the use of my left arm and hand already, I really don't know what is 'around the corner' but I do know it will be very challenging.
After all the 'why me' tears and ' why me' anger, we decided we wouldn’t let MND win, we would fight back – that’s why Phil and Carol have set up their Fightback Fund.
Phil and Carol have a huge wish to make a difference ! Raising money and increasing awareness will help us focus our minds on fighting back.
The Fightback Fund will raise funds, not only supporting myself and family through my ailing health but will also be supporting the local MND Association in North Hampshire in their vital work helping people as they struggle to live their lives with MND plus raising funds for research.
You can make a real difference for people living with MND. Your donation can help us fight back against MND. There is a serious lack of awareness and more importantly, funding. Please join us in changing the landscape and future for many others globally.
Phil’s muscles may be weaker, and the prognosis is not good, but our drive and determination to fight back will only get stronger.
One day we will beat MND
Thank you, your donations are really appreciated, they will go along way to helping researchers find the cure and supporting people living with MND.
Please feel free to circulate my story and this link to your own network to help raise awareness of MND.
Phil & Carol Harwood
www.mndassociation.org
The facts:
MND is life-shortening and there is no cure. Although the disease will progress, symptoms can only be managed to help achieve the best possible quality of life.
With MND, messages from the motor neurones gradually stop reaching the muscles. This leads the muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste. MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. However, MND affects everyone differently. Not all symptoms will affect everyone, or in the same order. Symptoms also progress at varying speeds, 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. That’s 3 children in each and every school today. It can affect adults of any age. The impact of MND on patients, and their families cannot be overestimated.
At present there is only one treatment for MND that can only extend life for two or three months. Several clinical trials are currently taking place and the latest announced will allow hundreds of people living with MND in the UK to take part in tests of potential treatments. But with long term survival rates so low, there is a limited window in which to study why MND develops and how it progresses.
Although the Ice Bucket Challenge raised awareness in 2014, awareness of this awful, debilitating disease is still sadly lacking throughout the UK and the world. Many will not even know of the disease until they are diagnosed or have a relative who is affected. Raising awareness is key to educating people about the disease and what the disease does. Reaching out to people and creating more awareness will help us along our journey to support those living with MND.
www.mndassociation.org
When I received the diagnosis, with a life expectancy prognosis of between months and two years, I knew my life, my family's life and all our future plans, would change drastically. Our thoughts on retirement would now have to have the devastating diagnosis of MND factored in to them. Having lost the use of my left arm and hand already, I really don't know what is 'around the corner' but I do know it will be very challenging.
After all the 'why me' tears and ' why me' anger, we decided we wouldn’t let MND win, we would fight back – that’s why Phil and Carol have set up their Fightback Fund.
Phil and Carol have a huge wish to make a difference ! Raising money and increasing awareness will help us focus our minds on fighting back.
The Fightback Fund will raise funds, not only supporting myself and family through my ailing health but will also be supporting the local MND Association in North Hampshire in their vital work helping people as they struggle to live their lives with MND plus raising funds for research.
You can make a real difference for people living with MND. Your donation can help us fight back against MND. There is a serious lack of awareness and more importantly, funding. Please join us in changing the landscape and future for many others globally.
Phil’s muscles may be weaker, and the prognosis is not good, but our drive and determination to fight back will only get stronger.
One day we will beat MND
Thank you, your donations are really appreciated, they will go along way to helping researchers find the cure and supporting people living with MND.
Please feel free to circulate my story and this link to your own network to help raise awareness of MND.
Phil & Carol Harwood
www.mndassociation.org
The facts:
MND is life-shortening and there is no cure. Although the disease will progress, symptoms can only be managed to help achieve the best possible quality of life.
With MND, messages from the motor neurones gradually stop reaching the muscles. This leads the muscles to weaken, stiffen and waste. MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. However, MND affects everyone differently. Not all symptoms will affect everyone, or in the same order. Symptoms also progress at varying speeds, 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. That’s 3 children in each and every school today. It can affect adults of any age. The impact of MND on patients, and their families cannot be overestimated.
At present there is only one treatment for MND that can only extend life for two or three months. Several clinical trials are currently taking place and the latest announced will allow hundreds of people living with MND in the UK to take part in tests of potential treatments. But with long term survival rates so low, there is a limited window in which to study why MND develops and how it progresses.
Although the Ice Bucket Challenge raised awareness in 2014, awareness of this awful, debilitating disease is still sadly lacking throughout the UK and the world. Many will not even know of the disease until they are diagnosed or have a relative who is affected. Raising awareness is key to educating people about the disease and what the disease does. Reaching out to people and creating more awareness will help us along our journey to support those living with MND.
www.mndassociation.org
Organizer
Philip Harwood
Organizer