Staff Team builder raises money for Motor Neurone Disease Association

SERC School of Applied Science, Sport and Access to Education’s teambuilding afternoon had a bonus lift for everyone by raising vital funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. 

Colin Atkinson, Deputy Head of School said, “This charity is important to us as we have seen the impact this disease has had on our colleague Carolyn’s husband, Nigel. Carolyn works very closely with our department, helping our students on work experience, on placements and in competitions. We were happy to be able to help in this small way and thrilled to have raised £328.85 through the generosity of staff for a raffle”

Carolyn King, Work Placements and Competitions Manager at SERC said, “My husband Nigel was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in January 2019 and has dealt with this diagnosis in his usual dignified and determined manner.  MND Is a life-shortening disease and there is no cure. There is a 1 in 300 risk of getting the disease across a lifetime.  Diagnosis can be difficult because it causes a range of symptoms which progress at varying speeds.  Nigel has a working diagnosis because he has some A-typical symptoms which do not follow one of the four main types of MND.

She added, “From diagnosis the support and guidance we have had from the MND Association has been tremendous.  We have been overwhelmed with the compassion and support from colleagues in SERC. There is not one day that passes that someone doesn’t stop and ask me how things are.  I cannot express what a positive impact this has on us both.  

“Both Nigel and I would like to express our gratitude to everyone involved in the fundraiser. We have both been humbled by the generosity of funds raised in just a few hours.”