Jude De Vos is one of the people bravely sharing her story as part of our ‘More Needs Doing’ campaign this Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month, her son Jody sadly died of MND four years ago, he was just 38 years old.

Jody lived in Australia when he was first diagnosed with MND and shortly returned home to Holmfirth to live with his mum Jude, who became his full-time carer.

Jude told us that a purpose-built centre would have made a huge difference to both her and her beloved son:

“When I heard about the Rob Burrow MND centre, it was like a gift from heaven. I really felt, if only that had been here for Jody, if only that had been there for me, it had been there for his two sisters. If only the centre would have been there four, five years ago it would have made a huge difference to our lives.”

On the 22nd of June, a day after Global MND day, Jude hiked 4,413 ft to the peak of Ben Nevis to raise funds for the Rob Burrow Centre for MND appeal in memory of Jody.

Despite facing strong winds, rain and mist along the way, and seeing several others turn back, Jude powered on to reach the summit of Ben Nevis!

Thanks to her inspirational fundraising efforts, Jude has raised an extraordinary £4,647 to help build the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. 

You can still donate to Jude's fundraising page here

To mark Motor Neurone Disease Awareness month, we have launched our ‘More Needs Doing’ campaign to help raise awareness of MND and highlight how the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease will make a difference to people affected by the life-limiting condition.

Throughout June, the charity is sharing stories from people living with MND in our region, staff working at the Leeds Motor Neurone Disease Care Centre, and families impacted by the disease.

The current MND centre at Seacroft Hospital, run by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, is located on a busy multi-purpose ward not built with MND patients in mind and without the ability to be fitted with equipment and facilities for those who are physically impaired.

Find out more about the Rob Burrow Centre for MND