Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Awareness Month – June 2015 – The Mike Findley Story and Fund

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Awareness Month – June 2015 – The Mike Findley Story and Fund:
Mike Findley a brave and incredible man was 70 on 14th February 2015. This is a big year for Mike, celebrating his 70th birthday, 10 years since he was diagnosed with MND, 50 years as a member of the CWU (and 60 years supporting Fulham football club!).

As many will know, Mike is CWU Gold Badge Holder and a Former CWU Regional Secretary, Divisional Representative, Branch Secretary and Branch Chairman, serving the Union with distinction for over 30 years before retirement from Royal Mail in 1999.

After retirement, Mike became an active and distinguished leader in both his Local Community Association and in Pensioners organisations. He also became a local Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Redcar and Cleveland Council.

After diagnosis of MND in June 2005 he formed the Mike Findley MND Fund and has raised over £155,000 for MND, wining many awards and accolades for his efforts including an MBE in 2010. He was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Redcar and Cleveland in 2012.
On 17 June 2005 Mike was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and was told the average lifespan is two – five years. In 2007 after more tests he was told that he had the slower type of the condition called progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) which has a lifespan of 5+ years.
On 15 September 2005 along with family and friends he launched the Mike Findley MND fund and since then has organised many events to raise awareness of MND and to raise money for the MND Association’s ‘central research fund’, plus he has helped local people suffering with the disease through the MND care centre at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.
Mike says “There is no treatment or cure for Motor Neurone Disease and the only outcome is death, with the majority of people with MND dying within 14 months. So it is vitally important that we continue to do all we can to raise awareness and money for research, in the hope that one day the world will be free of MND. So any support people can give will be much appreciated.”

Mike’s condition update is that he has been in remission for three years, although his shoulders and neck are a little weaker. He is still unable to use his arms and hands properly and he uses speech recognition computer software for communications such as writing e-mails. Thankfully, his legs are still strong, although he still needs an electric wheelchair to get around. He told me that he is feeling upbeat and great in himself and in fact better than he has for a few years, and after a four-year break he has just been elected back onto the local Council.

Mike is hoping to attend CWU Annual Conference next year, for his good friend Dave Ward’s first Conference as CWU General Secretary and also hopefully to meet many old colleagues and for a CWU Divisional Representatives reunion.
Mike Findley would be happy to hear from anyone in the CWU wanting to help during Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Awareness Month. Attached is a list of this year’s fundraising events organised by the Mike Findley MND Fund. Anybody wishing to know more about the events can email Mike, especially the MND Walk which is an enjoyable walk along the coast from the village where Mike lives in Marske by the sea to Redcar. Anybody wishing to enter a team can obtain registration forms which are available now.
Attached is a photograph of Mike Findley (centre of bottom row) with his dedicated team of volunteers.
Please visit Mike’s Website:- http://mikefindleymndfund.com/

Contact details are:-

4, Northfield Road
Marske-by-the-sea
Redcar, Cleveland
TS11 6EJ
01642/830220 (home)
07805764212 (mike)
07794612857 (judith – treasurer)
mikefindley@ntlworld.com
judithfindley@ntlworld.com
Website:- http://mikefindleymndfund.com/
Yours sincerely
 

 
Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety& Environment Officer