One of my fellow MadeIt sellers, Belinda from Studio Astratta, recently lost her Dad to Motor Neurone Disease (MND). She is raising funds this month to assist the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Queensland to provide essential equipment, care and support to people and their carers living with MND. These support services are crucial to enable people with MND to remain active for the longest possible time.

MND is a group of related diseases affecting the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. These nerves are known as motor neurones. As the nerves become damaged the muscles they control weaken and waste.

The muscles first affected tend to be those in the hands, feet or mouth and throat, depending on what type of disease it is. MND does not generally affect the senses, so sight, smell, touch and hearing remain intact, as do the sphincter muscles that control the bladder and bowel. Other areas that are not usually affected are sexual function and intellect. MND is not contagious.

Motor neurone disease is a progressive, life limiting disease and the rate of progression varies greatly from one person to another. There is currently no cure for this disease.

For the rest of May, The Silver Forge will donate 10% of all sales to the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Queensland via Belinda’s fundraising page at Everyday Hero. Do what you can to help this worthy cause by purchasing yourself a little something from The Silver Forge shop, or by going to the Everyday Hero page and making a donation directly.