No.40. All about the fundraising.

Thought I`d write todays blog about how important fund raising is and how we are desperately trying to do our bit.

Firstly MND and the MNDA gets NO GOVERNMENT FUNDING for research into finding a cure, not a single penny, so donations are the only hope those with MND have.

It is quite hard sometimes, for me anyway, to think of fundraising ideas outside of the bigger organised events that are all so far away. I do have a serious lack of imagination on that front.

The poster above shows what the money raised by donations can fund, apart from the obvious one of research. It shows how donations actually help people with MND directly. I`ve just set up a Fighting Fund for Chris called `Team Roberts fighting MND` to record any funds raised in his name. (It doesn`t go direct to him in case you were wondering), so I am desperately thinking of ideas to raise some more funds.

We raised a very unexpected £625 with out Bake it day event and I`ve been trying to think of other fund raising ideas. The village church have said we can set up an awareness stall to raise some money at their annual fete. I`ll ask if I can do a little raffle too and I have been thinking about organising a farm walk, maybe incorporating the `Walk to D`feet` events. We have done a farm walk before and it was well supported, so that may be an idea. All small scale stuff , but every little helps.

I used to paint a bit in oils too , nothing fancy, but I thought I might put a couple I have here up for auction on EBay. I`m going to research a bit more on that front, but we`ll see. Someone might like them.

I am in awe of the people who do the marathons, sky dives and swims, I could truly never do anything like that, so I`ll try and think of ideas more within my abilities. I`m pretty good at a mean cake and a cuppa, so maybe I should stick to that.

However funds are raised though, every amount, no matter how small, is so important. Lives depend on it. The MND warriors of today may not benefit from any future cure, but they benefit in other ways. The MND association can provide them with specialist equipment and other things like telephone support for those who need it.

Charities like Cancer research UK raise around £500 million pounds a year, yes, it is an important charity and yes far more people get cancer than MND, but the costs of research are probably very similar I would imagine and MND only raises around £3 million pounds a year, quite a difference, so you can see why every penny helps. The fight to find a cure is global and the fact that the fight has been going on for 75 years shows how tough finding a cause and a cure is for this disease. There are glimmers of hope on the horizon, probably too late for people like Chris, but it gives hope to future generations who may get MND.

So, fund raising is REALLY important, hence raising awareness constantly and I shall get my thinking cap on for our next fundraising idea.