Elation Community Voices choir raises £1,036 for Motor Neurone Disease Association

A cheque for £1,036.63 was presented to Jo Burkimsher, an association visitor, on behalf of the Northamptonshire branch on Monday May 19. Association visitors are volunteers who support local people with motor neurone disease (MND) by visiting them in their homes and making regular contact via phone or email.

MND is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting. The disease is, currently, incurable. The Northampton-based MND Association is the only national charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland focused on MND care, research and campaigning.

Elation Community Voices’ chairman, Vince Collins, said: “Every year we ask our members to put forward suggestions for our nominated charity. Our choice in 2013 was the MND Association. The efforts of our members, along with the support and generosity of the many people who attended our concerts during 2013, allowed us to make this donation. We are very pleased to be able to make a contribution to such a worthy cause.”

Emma Johns, communications manager at the MND Association, thanked the choir members.

She said: “We rely almost entirely on donations to fund our vital work to helped people with MND access the best care and support, while we work to raise awareness of the disease and continue our search for a cure. Thanks to the choir members, this generous donation will make a big difference to the lives of those affected by this cruel disease.”

Elation Community Voices has more than 100 members, male and female, aged from 18 upwards. The choir performs a wide range of contemporary music in soprano, alto, tenor and bass parts.

Learn more about Elation Community Voices at www.elationcommunityvoices.com

Discover more about MND and the work of the MND Association at www.mndassociation.org