About Artists Against MND

Artists Against MND is a passionate community of creative individuals dedicated to making a difference in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease (MND). With a shared belief in the power of art to inspire change, we have come together to raise both awareness and funds to support those affected by this devastating condition.

Founders, Stuart Bates MBE and Richard Brailsford set up Artists Against MND with one focus. To raise money to cure MND. All art is donated free of charge, and the founders do not take a wage. Money raised goes directly to The Mel Evans MBE Foundation. Please read on to understand more about Richard and Stuart’s stories and links to MND.

About the founders:

Stuart Bates MBE

Stuart has been a passionate fundraiser since his hero and older brother Spencer, known to all as Spenny, was diagnosed with MND in 2009. Upon Spenny’s death in 2011 he promised to keep raising funds and awareness until a cure was found. He has been the driving force behind many high profile fundraising ventures, most notably Spennylympics in 2021. During the Tokyo Olympics he completed every single one of the 102 events over the 17 days of the games. This was covered across the world with TV appearances in over 50 countries. In 2022 he was immensely honoured to attend the state funeral of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of the British fundraising community.In 2023 he was awarded an MBE for services to the Motor Neurone Disease community.

Through their shared experiences Stuart and Richard have forged a brilliant friendship and an even deeper desire to rid the world of this cruellest of diseases. Stuart has many passions, with art being one of them.

Stuart and Richard have been humbled by the generosity of time, spirit and sense of community that the art world has shown since the inception of Artists Against MND. They truly believe that together they will all bring the reality of a cure that little step closer.

Richard Brailsford

Richard’s Dad, Chris died from Motor Neurone Disease in 2013, after a savage 9-month illness. Richard’s obsession since then has been to find a cure for MND. From an awful situation, Richard, his sister Lorna and wider friends and family formed The MND Army. He and Stuart have united behind a shared passion to cure MND. They have a strong bond and friendship. The MND Army focuses on physical challenges or creating enjoyable, fun, and meaningful events, whilst making a difference. Richard and his MND Army have raised over £50,000 to date.

Although certainly not an art connoisseur, Richard is an art lover. Working with Stuart, the wonderful artists and art experts, Richard shares the Artists Against MND objective of art being a force for good and to fund research.

A cure isn’t a wish, it is an obsession. Richard says he just wishes to remove one word from a sentence. “There is NOT a cure for MND”.

Richard and Stuart share the same aspiration for Artists Against MND. Richard is incredibly excited and grateful for the support from artists and those who purchase these works of art.

About the charity

The Mel Evans MBE Foundation

www.melevansfoundation.org.uk

This Foundation was set up in memory of Mel Evans MBE who was diagnosed with MND in 2016. As a much loved father, grandfather, partner, friend and bowler who was responsible for bringing Crown Green Bowls back onto TV, we want this Foundation to become a lasting legacy to help those in society who are stricken by MND.

The Mel Evans MBE Foundation was formally and legally approved by The Charities Commission in August 2019. The key objective of the Foundation are to fund and assist research into the illness with the quest of finding a cure for the illness.