What is your motivation to become a trustee of the MND Association?
I have had PLS, a rare form of MND, for just over six years and thus I know what it is like to have MND and live with it! I am passionate about improving the lives of people living with MND and promoting awareness of MND making life better and easier for people living with MND and their families. My wife is my full time carer so I am aware and can understand how difficult this role can be.
I have been a campaign volunteer for almost a year and have been locally involved in the MND Charter, I have Bideford Town Council on board, as well as Act to Adapt for which I was a nominated speaker at the recent Zoom meeting for Councillors. I have been invited to view All-Party Parliamentary Group on MND meetings and am about to start as a member of the Policy and Campaigns Advisory Group (PCAG).
I have also done some ad-hoc fund raising.
What experience and skills will you bring to your role as a trustee?
In my working life I was a National Sales Manager, so I have good people and decision-making skills. I also sat on the Executive Board that oversaw the strategy and monitoring of various key performance indicators. I have been responsible for multi-million turnover - so I have experience of financial responsibility.
I am a good listener and am used to being involved in making group decisions. I have many colleagues and families with MND and thus I am able to listen to their views on living with MND.
I was already posting about raising awareness of MND every Friday on Facebook before I became a Campaign Volunteer.