In 2007 my dad (Nigel Blood) passed away some 7 years after being diagnosed with the progressive neurological disorder, Multiple Systems Atrophy (MSA). Put simply, MSA is caused by cell loss in certain areas of the brain and the spinal cord resulting in problems with movement, balance and automatic functions of the body such as bladder control. The disease tends to advance rapidly over the course of 9 to 10 years, with progressive loss of motor skills, eventual confinement to bed, and death. There is no remission from the disease. There is currently no cure. Sounds horrific doesn’t it? That’s because it is - it is for this reason, and having seen both my mom (as a full time carer) and dad suffer both physically and mentally at the hands of this dreadful condition for several years, that I really wanted to do something to raise money to help towards research in an attempt to find a cure for this debilitating condition. On the 15th/16th July 2011 a group of 10 of us will be attempting to complete the 3 Peaks Challenge to raise as much money as possible for our chosen charities. Our initial target is £2,000 but hopefully we can exceed that.
Fundraising pageThe Multiple Systems Atrophy Trust - The Multiple System Atrophy Trust was established in 1997 and is the only UK support charity for people affected by MSA. The Trust aims to: • Provide information and support to people living with MSA and their families • Raise awareness of the condition and its treatment, especially among healthcare professionals • Promote and sponsor research into MSA, its cause, treatment and ultimately its cure St Giles Hospice - St Giles Hospice is a registered charity, offering specialist care in a variety of settings for patients with cancer and other serious (and often terminal) illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and helpers. Whilst dad spent the majority of time in the comfort of his own home during his illness (thanks to the tremendous care and devotion provided by mom), he did spend a couple of weeks in St Giles during the later stages of his illness to give mom some much needed respite. The importance of having a facility such as this for seriously/terminally ill patients cannot be under estimated. If you would like to find out more about either of these charities, please visit the websites shown below to appreciate what valuable work these organisations do: <a href="http://www.msaweb.co.uk">Multiple Systems Atrophy Trust</a> <a href="http://www.stgileshospice.com">St Giles Hospice</a>
The National Three Peaks Challenge takes in the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, often in 24 hours.