MND Association

Kevin Sinfield completed seven marathons in seven days to show his support for his friend and former teammate, Rob Burrow and to raise funds for the MND Association

The MND Asociation - Support for those living with, or affected by, Motor Neurone Disease in North Tyneside

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is often seen as a ‘rare’ disease – however, a person has a 1 in 300 chance of developing MND in their lifetime. There are no know cures or treatments and half of people affected die within two years of a diagnosis, a third within 1 year.

The MND Association is the only national charity that supports people living with MND, their families and carers and fund millions of pounds worth of research each year – their vision is a world free of MND.

Here in North Tyneside, the Association is represented by the local Tyne and Wear Branch. With support from the local Area Support Coordinator, David Whalley. The MND Association can offer support to those living with, or who are affected by, MND.

They run a monthly support group for those living with MND (11am, second Wednesday of every month via Zoom) and a carers’ group (1pm, last Friday of every month via Zoom).

They also provide monthly, subject specific information sessions – check out their social media pages for future events.

Although online support groups are not for everyone, they have been well received by people living in the North East, including those living in North Tyneside:

Bill (name changed), aged 70 from Wallsend said: “I have found the support groups and information sessions very sociable and informative”

People can also choose to have the one-to-one support from one of their amazing Association Visitors (AVs) – fully trained and DBS checked. All support is currently being offered via telephone, email, text or video call. AVs are there to listen to you, make you feel less isolated and offer support and advocacy whilst you are living with MND. They are also able to offer support to families and carers too.

The Association is also able to offer a series of financial grants:

• £250 Emergency Coronavirus Grant for those suffering financial hardship
• Funding towards equipment and services that people with MND have been assessed as in need of
• Funding for children and young people living with or affected by someone with MND or who are affected by MND themselves
• Non-paid carers supporting someone living with MND
• Improving quality of life for someone living with MND

For more information, or to find out more about the local support from the MND Association, please contact David Whalley, Area Support Coordinator, on 01604 800613, 07966396094 or david.whalley@mndassociation.org