Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I've been friends with Lesley Fowkes since June 2012. We met at a George Formby Society Convention and have been close friends since. A few months ago Lesley was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. There is no cure or effective treatment for this condition. 

The news was devastating for Lesley, her family and all their friends. I have found it very hard to come to terms with because there is just nothing I can do to make things better.

So, following Lesley's lead (she is doing the ice bucket challenge) I decided to help her raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association who have given her some brilliant help and support. The MNDA not only provide support to those with MND and their families, but they also carry out research to try to find a cure. 

I reckon that if Lesley can keep smiling (and she does) in the face of this crock of you know what, then I can do something too. I am doing something I swore I never would. I'm going to bungee jump off the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge. At present the thought makes me feel sick but I will do it. If Lesley and her family can face MND then I can face a few minutes of terror. 

Lesley has set up a Fightback Fund with MNDA. All the money raised in Lesley's name goes to the MNDA to use where their need is most urgent, fighting back against this devastating disease. It gives us all a focus and is giving Lesley and her family a real lift, seeing the total raised by her and her friends rack up. Please help me to add another £1000 to help fight MND. 

Because I really need a bit of support when I get up onto that bridge, three lovely people have offered to do the jump with me (and give me a push if I bottle it). Two friends from Hartlepool Power Station , Nicki Hopper and Leigh Hyde and another lovely mate from the Birch Hall Inn gang, Kate Lewis (coming all the way from Nottingham to do it). So thanks to the three of you and thanks in advance to any of your pals who throw a few quid into the pot for MNDA. 

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