So glad you enjoyed the escapades the other day. A bit of fun, and memorable. And there’s a link to today’s jottings. Later.
Like you probably, over the years I’ve donated to a number of good causes and still do. My own regular ones include Book Aid, which sends books to third world countries and refugee camps, and Macmillan Cancer, and Médecins Sans Frontières; and then one-off donations to individual fund-raising requests from friends who are suffering in some way, or are undertaking challenges to raise money for others. I never thought I’d be asking for donations on my own account though. I mean for MND/ALS research, not for the David Peace Benevolent Fund … though you’re very welcome ….
So when Prof. Tony Watts suggested it I agreed, and the David Peace Fund for MND research was launched on 2nd December. A week later it appeared in this blog. Now, ten weeks from launch, it has raised over £10,300 in one-off donations and over £1,100 in annual payments. I’m amazed. It’s quite remarkable. I’m truly grateful.
I want to thank everyone who has donated. Some of you I know; others have given anonymously; but I ask everyone to accept my sincere thanks. It’s so important to beat this utterly cruel disease. We still don’t know what causes it or how it can be prevented or treated. It’s terminal and the way it works is brutal, creeping through the body and paralysing every muscle.
So the Fund remains open of course. £15,000 would be a neat figure to reach ….
But what’s the connection with my adventures the other day? You will have seen that the final one was a bit of galactic exploration.
Five days after the launch of the Fund someone made a generous donation. I had met her briefly and only once or twice, over a year before. She’s an engineer, and she’s an academic, and right now she’s an astronaut, chosen from countless others to train with NASA. So when she does have her own launch I might just don the space suit again and go up and thank her in person, among the stars.
She’s a star. And everyone who’s helping to beat this illness is a star. Thank you all again.
This is a great result so far and very heartening to see that the fund keeps growing. As we know, you and your blog have been the inspiration and it’s been lovely to read the many tributes. It’s a small way in which we friends can do something positive for you and for this hugely important cause. It would be wonderful to reach a target of £15,000!
Proof that courageous souls like you are good for charities! I was already contributing to another MNDA fund – in memory of a wonderful woman called Gilly Willy. More power to your elbow – if your elbow is still functioning!
That just wonderful David hope you reach £15000