Grant puts Muscular Dystrophy Association on road

Media release

29 January 2010

Lion Foundation grant boost puts Muscular Dystrophy Association on the road

Thanks to a $24,000 grant from The Lion Foundation, the Wellington branch of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has purchased a vehicle enabling them to travel further afield to support people suffering from neuromuscular disease.

MDA provides advice and support to people who have Muscular Dystrophy, and there are approximately 200 members in the greater Wellington area (covering Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Central North Island, Taranaki, Manawatu, Wairarapa and the Wellington Region); however it is believed there is up to four times this amount of sufferers in this region. 

With a new vehicle, the local Field Worker will now be able to venture into these areas and provide case management and service co-ordination, as well as advocacy, advice and information to new and existing members of the MDA, their families, caregivers, and social welfare and medical personnel.

Liz Mills, Chairperson for the MDA (Wellington Region), says the vehicle will enable the organisation to provide even greater support.

“For many people with neuromuscular disease there is often limited knowledge about their conditions and whilst there are varying symptoms, many will have a significant degree of physical disability impacting mobility, and making it hard to access support from their community.  It is not until they receive the support from our field workers that they are able to manage their circumstances more effectively and realise their full potential,” says Mrs Mills.

“This has given our branch a huge boost as we only opened our new branch office in Petone and employed two staff in November 2009.  Having a Field Worker Service available to our members was much needed and long overdue in our region.  The positive feedback so  far from our members has been really encouraging, and we are extremely grateful to The Lion Foundation for its generosity as it will greatly assist our team and the people in the community we support.”

Operating for 24 years and one of the country’s most widely respected community trusts, The Lion Foundation funds a wide range of arts, cultural, sporting, educational and health focused causes, by distributing back to the local community the funds raised through its gaming venues throughout the area that the Field Officer covers.

“We are proud to assist the Muscular Dystrophy Association with the purchase of a vehicle,” says The Lion Foundation chief Executive Phil Holden.  “It will make a significant difference to the organisation, the people benefiting from its services, and the wider community.”

ENDS

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