The Media
Most of you will have heard of the ice bucket challenge that swept across the world over the past couple of months. You may have even got involved and had someone dump a bucket of iced water on your head when you least expected it. Did you donate to the cause? Even the mayor of Victoria Park took to the challenge.
Motor Neurone Disease
Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name given to a group of diseases in which the nerve cells (neurones) controlling the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow undergo degeneration and die.
MND is known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in many parts of the world, and as Lou Gehrig’s disease in the USA. (www.mndaust.asn.au)
MND Australia raised over two million Dollars as a result of this fundraiser and they can now fund research into this debilitating condition. There will be numerous people out there who are grateful for this media coverage.
To Follow Up
This charity event made worldwide headlines and brought to the attention of the everyday person, what it is to live with MND.
Sadly this is not the only degenerative disease out there profoundly affecting people. One that sits close to my heart is Muscular Dystrophy.
Muscular dystrophy is the name given to a group of neuromuscular disorders that cause progressive and irreversible weakness and wasting of themuscles. (www.mda.org.au) Mostly it is inherited and there is no cure.
I have had the fortune of working with an inspirational woman who has spoken publicly about what it is to live with Muscular Dystrophy every day. She has given permission for us to promote her speech and I hope you will find it as life affirming as I did.
For our 2014 Christmas Charity fundraiser we will be supporting the FSHD Global’s ‘Save our Smiles’ campaign and will be selling smiley badges and other merchandise to put a seasonal smile on your face. For more information please go to
http://fshdglobal.org/save-smile-success/
Thank you for your support and your bright smiles that light up our day.