“My Dad shouldn’t die without a voice”. These are the words on the poster that I pass every day on my tube journey into work. Lots of Londoners will have noticed it in recent months – it features a father, Mark Samsom, and his daughter. Mark has Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a progressive disease that causes increasing loss of mobility and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing.
I first became aware of MND when one of my neighbours Gareth, a Dad with three young children, was diagnosed with the disease in 2010. I’ll admit, I didn’t know a great deal about MND. But I know Gareth found the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) charity incredibly supportive and vital in helping him and his family through difficult and challenging times. He was central in helping our local charity, Furzedown Annual Charity Events (FACE) raise the funds to help MND South London provide grants and equipment to support other families living with MND. Sadly, Gareth passed away in March 2012, and is still much missed.
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