Beautifully said John, & indeed Keepitgreen on a later thread.
I won't be able to be with you all on Saturday but will be in spirit. (having done my challenge in memory of Lilian, my mum, who also passed away with this horrid disease).
As well as raising much needed funds, this has been the most fabulous opportunity to raise awareness of MND. Whilst a small %, ca. 10%, of cases are familial (where family members have a 50% chance of incepting MND !!!) the majority just occur out of the blue, typically resulting in death ca18/24 months after diagnosis, through which period the motor functions "grind to a halt"....at any age as early as 20 & as late as 75, perhaps most typically in the 40s/50s.
It was David Niven's last defiant gesture as he finally succumbed that results in the "thumbs up" logo of the MNDA ( & indeed that's the relevance of that sign being repeated in many of the videos.)
http://www.mndassociation.org for further info.
The US charity,alsa.org, have raised a fabulous amount as well as MNDA here in the UK which will go a long way to funding the fabulous research that is being done to find a cure ( & early detection etc.)
The monies that I raise through quizzes in South Bucks, HP10 8LN more typically go to help support sufferers, eg: with tailor-made wheelchairs & other help. Next dates are Oct 11th & Jan 17th (all are welcome!- it would be great to have an Argyle table- eg PASALB!), when some of the proceeds will again go to the Cornish Branch, for whom I have tremendous respect even tho' it was a fair few years ago when my mum was a sufferer, so invaluably helped.
I am sorry to have to say that I am saddened that the marketing dept of MacMillan have decided to let down their so-highly respected charity ( whose awareness needs are quite different I would also suggest) by muscling in on this ALS/MND initiative.
I don't want to become too churlish, but I do hope that Saturday's fun ( & Thank You James Brent, & all who take part in it) is a fabulous occasion for MND.
Onwards & Upwards in raising awareness & in our fight against this horrid disease !!