22 September 2022 Volunteering
MND Association volunteers Lee Millard and Dave Setters have been honoured for their leading role in the United to End MND campaign at the prestigious Third Sector Awards
The pair were recognised in the Volunteer of the Year category having been nominated by staff at the Association.
The campaign saw a call on Government for an investment of £50 million in targeted MND research. Dave and Lee brought together people with MND, charities – the MND Association, MND Scotland, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, neurologists and campaigners under the United to End MND banner.
In November 2021, the pair were among the first to be told that the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson had committed to the £50 million investment. They have continued to work tirelessly to ensure the money is targeted in the most beneficial and effective way.
And now their efforts have been recognised at the annual awards, held in central London at the end of September.
The overall winner of the category was Claire McLaughlan from the Scottish Centre for Personal Safety.
The Association’s Director of Engagement Chris Wade said:
“Living with MND themselves, Dave and Lee understand the urgency to find successful treatments for this brutal disease and channelled their sense of urgency into the campaign. Securing the investment from the Government was an astonishing result, in no small part attributable to the vision, collaboration and tenacity of Dave and Lee.
“Everyone at the Association is absolutely delighted to see the two of them have been recognised in this way. The Association has thousands of determined volunteers dedicated to our cause. Dave and Lee are a perfect example of the power of tenacious individual volunteers to change the world we live in. They teach us all, that as citizens we have the ability to influence government decision-making way beyond just the ballot box.”