On 28th September the Club is supporting a collection for the Motor Neurone Disease Support Teams in Bedford and Northampton.
This awful disease has impacted two of our very own long-time Supporters and we as a Club are very keen to support Jim and Karen in any way we can. Jim’s and Karen’s story can be read below and will also appear in the online matchday programme.
On behalf of Jim, Karen and the Club I would like you all to support the day by encouraging other Supporters through the gate, engage with the MND teams who will be shaking their buckets.
In addition the MND teams have opened a joint ‘JustGiving’ page:
https://justgiving.com/page/rushdendiam ... 306979192
Thank you
Dave Bland
[ Sat 28th SEP ] Our MND Journey - Collection
-
Dazzler
- The Staff
- Posts: 5841
- Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 9:00 pm
- Has Liked: 1 time
- Been Liked: 94 times
Re: [ Sat 28th SEP ] Our MND Journey
Our MND Journey by Jim (Pigman) Playle
https://www.afcdiamonds.com/our-mnd-journey/
Imagine for a minute not being able to speak, eat, drink, walk, dress yourself, have trouble using your hands and fingers on your mobile phone, unable to pick up a pen to write, to be totally dependent upon someone to care for you, to do everything for you, but all while your mind is as sharp as it ever was – welcome to my wife’s world.
Rugby league star Rob Burrow, who played over 500 games for Leeds Rhinos, did an amazing and inspirational job of raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease, an illness he was diagnosed with in 2019, and sadly succumbed to in June this year. But it is only when it impacts on you personally that the real effect of this awful condition strikes home.
For those that don’t know, MND is a rapidly progressing and life-threatening neurological condition with no cure. It affects people in different ways, but the average life expectancy of a sufferer is between 2-3 years, maybe less. In some cases, it is hereditary, others it is sporadic, as with my Karen. It is reported that 5,000 people a year in the UK area affected – it can affect you or your loved ones just as quickly and unexpectedly as it has us.
Some of you may remember Karen, who back in the old Rushden & Diamonds FC days helped to moderate the rdfcnet Fans Forum under the username PrincessK. Our MND journey started in December 2022 when she started to slur her words and find it difficult to swallow her food. Following lots of tests she was formally diagnosed with MND in August 2023.
Her decline since the diagnosis has seen her lose the ability to speak, eat, walk and her breathing has been adversely affected and she spends much of her time on a ventilator, her feeding and medication done through a PEG tube directly into her tummy. She is cared for 24/7 by me. Pretty much bedridden these days she remains amazing and inspirational with the way in which she copes with this dreadful illness. Her (rather warped) sense of humour hasn’t diminished one bit, even faced with then toughest of challenges every day.
Rob Burrow used his fame to raise awareness and millions of pounds in donations for the MND Association, but Karen’s courage and tenacity every day is just as incredible and every bit as inspirational as his was, she is my hero, she’s amazing!
The local MND Association have given us wonderful support, both emotional and practical. They have helped with support groups, advice and guidance, events, even financial support with grants for essential equipment we’ve needed.
The Football Club Board reached out to me recently and asked me how they could help, and they have kindly granted my request for a collection today to help raise some funds so the work of the local MNDA can continue. Please give generously so others can benefit in the same way as we have!
Thank you, Jim
https://www.afcdiamonds.com/our-mnd-journey/
- Karen-Playle.png (102.81 KiB) Viewed 3526 times
Imagine for a minute not being able to speak, eat, drink, walk, dress yourself, have trouble using your hands and fingers on your mobile phone, unable to pick up a pen to write, to be totally dependent upon someone to care for you, to do everything for you, but all while your mind is as sharp as it ever was – welcome to my wife’s world.
Rugby league star Rob Burrow, who played over 500 games for Leeds Rhinos, did an amazing and inspirational job of raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease, an illness he was diagnosed with in 2019, and sadly succumbed to in June this year. But it is only when it impacts on you personally that the real effect of this awful condition strikes home.
For those that don’t know, MND is a rapidly progressing and life-threatening neurological condition with no cure. It affects people in different ways, but the average life expectancy of a sufferer is between 2-3 years, maybe less. In some cases, it is hereditary, others it is sporadic, as with my Karen. It is reported that 5,000 people a year in the UK area affected – it can affect you or your loved ones just as quickly and unexpectedly as it has us.
Some of you may remember Karen, who back in the old Rushden & Diamonds FC days helped to moderate the rdfcnet Fans Forum under the username PrincessK. Our MND journey started in December 2022 when she started to slur her words and find it difficult to swallow her food. Following lots of tests she was formally diagnosed with MND in August 2023.
Her decline since the diagnosis has seen her lose the ability to speak, eat, walk and her breathing has been adversely affected and she spends much of her time on a ventilator, her feeding and medication done through a PEG tube directly into her tummy. She is cared for 24/7 by me. Pretty much bedridden these days she remains amazing and inspirational with the way in which she copes with this dreadful illness. Her (rather warped) sense of humour hasn’t diminished one bit, even faced with then toughest of challenges every day.
Rob Burrow used his fame to raise awareness and millions of pounds in donations for the MND Association, but Karen’s courage and tenacity every day is just as incredible and every bit as inspirational as his was, she is my hero, she’s amazing!
The local MND Association have given us wonderful support, both emotional and practical. They have helped with support groups, advice and guidance, events, even financial support with grants for essential equipment we’ve needed.
- MNDA-1024x298.jpg (62.65 KiB) Viewed 3526 times
The Football Club Board reached out to me recently and asked me how they could help, and they have kindly granted my request for a collection today to help raise some funds so the work of the local MNDA can continue. Please give generously so others can benefit in the same way as we have!
Thank you, Jim
-
Pigman
- Posts: 4340
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 4:14 pm
- Location: Bedford
- Has Liked: 14 times
- Been Liked: 56 times
Re: [ Sat 28th SEP ] Our MND Journey - Collection
On behalf of Karen, myself, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and other sufferers of this awful, wicked disease, I would like to thank the Football Club Board for putting on this awareness day and collection. Yes of course the football is important and it’s why we all follow the club, but this type of thing is what being a true “community” football club is all about.
Please say hello to the MNDA team on the day and find out more about this dreadful condition - it’s not selective, it can strike down anyone at any time and it is truly awful. Karen and I just never saw this coming and it turned our world upside down in just a few short months!
Karen is an amazing and strong woman who I am immensely proud of for how she copes with this daily - I’m in total awe of her strength! This last year has been the worst of our lives but it has drawn us more closer together than ever! She is my world and I am losing her a little more each and every day! Which is why I’m so keen to help the people who have helped us - the MNDA.
Karen used to come to games regularly back in the day, she was a regular home and away supporter - her one flaw (I would say) is having Billy Turley as her favourite all time player, she has his shirt somewhere (if I haven’t burnt it lol).
Next Saturday isn’t just about raising money for the local MNDA support groups (but please do give if you can afford to), it’s about making more people aware of the condition and how to spot the signs early and get checked out. There is no cure sadly; but support to deal with it and understand the journey you’re going on is vital for the suffer and their family, believe me, you will need a lot of support!!
I don’t get to many games these days because of my caring responsibilities, I’m unable to leave her alone now! I was hoping she would be well enough to come to the match on the 28th, alas that won’t be possible.
Anyway, back to the football - let’s hope the bad weather buggers off and we get both Tuesday and Saturday’s matches on and we get a haul of 6 points and continue our journey up the league table! From what I’ve heard yesterday was a great second half performance and we finished strongly - let’s take that into the next 2 home games and beyond!
Please say hello to the MNDA team on the day and find out more about this dreadful condition - it’s not selective, it can strike down anyone at any time and it is truly awful. Karen and I just never saw this coming and it turned our world upside down in just a few short months!
Karen is an amazing and strong woman who I am immensely proud of for how she copes with this daily - I’m in total awe of her strength! This last year has been the worst of our lives but it has drawn us more closer together than ever! She is my world and I am losing her a little more each and every day! Which is why I’m so keen to help the people who have helped us - the MNDA.
Karen used to come to games regularly back in the day, she was a regular home and away supporter - her one flaw (I would say) is having Billy Turley as her favourite all time player, she has his shirt somewhere (if I haven’t burnt it lol).
Next Saturday isn’t just about raising money for the local MNDA support groups (but please do give if you can afford to), it’s about making more people aware of the condition and how to spot the signs early and get checked out. There is no cure sadly; but support to deal with it and understand the journey you’re going on is vital for the suffer and their family, believe me, you will need a lot of support!!
I don’t get to many games these days because of my caring responsibilities, I’m unable to leave her alone now! I was hoping she would be well enough to come to the match on the 28th, alas that won’t be possible.
Anyway, back to the football - let’s hope the bad weather buggers off and we get both Tuesday and Saturday’s matches on and we get a haul of 6 points and continue our journey up the league table! From what I’ve heard yesterday was a great second half performance and we finished strongly - let’s take that into the next 2 home games and beyond!
Raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease
RIP Dale Roberts - gone, but never forgotten!!
RIP Dale Roberts - gone, but never forgotten!!
-
Pigman
- Posts: 4340
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 4:14 pm
- Location: Bedford
- Has Liked: 14 times
- Been Liked: 56 times
Re: [ Sat 28th SEP ] Our MND Journey - Collection
This was featured on BBC Radio Northampton’s Non-League show last night, they chatted to Jo from the MNDA, and made quite a feature of it - sadly I couldn’t talk live on the show as I was in the middle of caring for Karen, but I did chat to Chance earlier in the day and he did a great job explaining it all - I listened in and they did MND awareness and the club proud! Well done David B for sorting that out!
Raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease
RIP Dale Roberts - gone, but never forgotten!!
RIP Dale Roberts - gone, but never forgotten!!
-
Dazzler
- The Staff
- Posts: 5841
- Joined: Sun Dec 27, 2009 9:00 pm
- Has Liked: 1 time
- Been Liked: 94 times
Re: [ Sat 28th SEP ] Our MND Journey - Collection
You can listen to the talk here, from 16:40 in.
Radio Northampton - Non League Scene Episode 23/9/24
Note: Available for 28 days only.
Non League Scene Main Site
Radio Northampton - Non League Scene Episode 23/9/24
Note: Available for 28 days only.
Non League Scene Main Site
-
Pigman
- Posts: 4340
- Joined: Thu Dec 24, 2009 4:14 pm
- Location: Bedford
- Has Liked: 14 times
- Been Liked: 56 times
Re: !TODAY! [ Sat 28th SEP ] Our MND Journey - Collection
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the collection yesterday and to the Justgiving site this past week or so.
Collectively it has raised £1090.80, with more to come with the gift aid - that is an incredible amount and far exceeded my expectations.
The generosity of everyone is extremely touching and Karen and I know that this money will go a long way to helping people having to deal with this dreadful condition.
Also, massive thanks to Rebel Energy for adopting the Beds and Northants MNDAs as their charity for this season - 10p per person attending will be donated and over the season this could amount to close to another £1000 - that is amazing and we’re extremely grateful for their support.
I love this football club and all it stands for, but this proved that we’re more than just a football club, it’s a proper community and I thank you all for pulling together to support the people helping others in our communities suffering from this most wicked of illnesses!
Collectively it has raised £1090.80, with more to come with the gift aid - that is an incredible amount and far exceeded my expectations.
The generosity of everyone is extremely touching and Karen and I know that this money will go a long way to helping people having to deal with this dreadful condition.
Also, massive thanks to Rebel Energy for adopting the Beds and Northants MNDAs as their charity for this season - 10p per person attending will be donated and over the season this could amount to close to another £1000 - that is amazing and we’re extremely grateful for their support.
I love this football club and all it stands for, but this proved that we’re more than just a football club, it’s a proper community and I thank you all for pulling together to support the people helping others in our communities suffering from this most wicked of illnesses!
Raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease
RIP Dale Roberts - gone, but never forgotten!!
RIP Dale Roberts - gone, but never forgotten!!