CHALLENGING MND, a charity dedicated to helping people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) create lifelong memories for themselves and their families, have raised an extraordinary £2 million.
A whopping half of their funds raised come from donations, and ¼ from different events they run. On a mission to empower those living with MND, the charity has supported more than 450 families with grants of up to £2000 per individual. This achievement represents a powerful journey of resilience, determination and commitment to those facing this cruel disease.
This £2 million mark represents an incredible milestone for the charity. Their founder, Alex Gibson, was diagnosed with MND in 2018 and founded the charity in 2019 to provide tailored services, unforgettable experiences, and vital financial support for those diagnosed with MND. Their grants can be used for anything from emotional and financial assistance to adaptive equipment to innovative virtual reality experiences to trips with their families and loved ones. Their proposition is unique as they focus on carers of people with MND as well: it is not just the individual that is facing difficulties, but the family around them who often act as unpaid carers. As they continued to grow and raise more funds, the charity expanded their services.
As time went by, the charity also found a way to fill a crucial gap in the medical system. Individuals living with MND often need care from various departments: neurology, physio therapy, carers, mental health care, and many more.. The next step in their journey was to fund MND Family Care Coordinators, who coordinates the all encompassing care for someone living with MND. Their role revolves around providing emotional and psychological support to family, carers and patients adjusting to illness, disability, end of life issues, and bereavement.
A family member of a beneficiary has said:
“The whole process was so straightforward and compassionate, I can’t believe that such an incredible charity exists – it’s incredibly selfless and such a huge support in such a difficult time. The charity made it possible for us to go on what might be our last holiday where our mum can eat, drink and enjoy herself – it means more than we could ever try to put into words.”
The majority of their grants are used for adaptive equipment (37%) and trips (25%). People with MND often see their bodies slowly deteriorate, and they find themselves in need of wheelchairs and walking aids, communication aids, toilet frames, hoists, and even electrical feeding arms. With electric wheelchairs starting at the price of £1,000, the grants from Challenging MND make a huge difference in their beneficiaries lives.
The Disability Price Tag, which calculates the extra cost people living with disability incur, has found that the 2024 figure is around £1,067 a month. Disabled households have to divert their income to pay for specialist products and services, as well as pay more for the basics. Not only are they spending money on specialist disability-related products and services that are essential, like mobility aids, car adaptations, and therapies, but they are also needing to spend more on everyday things: booking a holiday may even be more expensive, due to lack of availability of accessible rooms. Oftentimes, public transport is inaccessible or difficult, and people with disabilities may need to book more expensive modes of transport.
£2 million is a significant number for the MND community, and a huge milestone for Challenging MND. Each year, the charity helps more and more beneficiaries: in 2024/2025, they saw a 22% increase in beneficiaries paid out. The hope is that they will continue growing and raising awareness for this cruel disease, and help individuals make the most of their time left. One quarter (25%) of beneficiaries use their grants to go on holiday with their loved ones and create precious memories before it is too late.
Alex Gibson, founder of the charity has said:
“I am so proud of all of the money we have raised. Doing challenges, applying for grants, and feeling supported by the community has really been a highlight of my life. I want to thank everyone at Challenging MND, and all of our supporters for making this happen. It’s all for the beneficiaries – we hope we can make at least a small difference to their lives in these incredibly difficult times. I hope we continue growing and helping more and more people, and become the go-to MND charity in the country.”
To support Challenging MND and individuals living with MND, please visit: https://challengingmnd.
