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FIGHTING ON: Fundraisers Ruby and Anna Collison need more help

DOTING daughter Anne Collison is desperately seeking support in Malmesbury for a Motor Neurone Disease charity to keep the memory of her father alive.

Mrs Collison set up the North Wiltshire branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association with her mother Ruby, 81, nearly 20 years ago after her father John, of Charlton, near Malmesbury, died from the disease.

Four years ago the branch had to downgrade to a fundraising group because of a slump in the number of committee members.

But the charitable pair are hoping to raise their game with a string of awareness events and have asked Triumph International in Swindon to considered the group for charity of the year.

They are making an appearance in Malmesbury town centre Saturday with the hope of drumming up more support from the town their father called home.

Over the years Mrs Collison and her group of volunteers have helped raise more than£100,000 for research into the disease, which affects the nerve cells leaving sufferers unable to walk, talk, or feed themselves.

She said: "It's 20 years in November since my father died.

"The first thing my mum and I did afterwards was a sale, and we raised about £300 . It was so successful we carried on.

"If we want to do big events now, there aren't that many people to help out and it is difficult when you are working full time.

"I think it is good to get awareness about Motor Neurone Disease into the public."

Mrs Collison hopes that by promoting the MND Association locally she can attract more helpers and the group can become a branch again, which would make fundraising easier.

She added: "Although it is still seen as a rare disease, it does affect a lot of people. At one stage my mum knew three people who were suffering from it.

"It is heartbreaking to see someone you love deteriorate so fast and the more that can be done the better."

For more information contact Anne on (01793) 337711 or go to the group's monthly meetings at Prospect Hospice on the first Wednesday of every month at 7pm.

1:43pm Thursday 10th April 2008

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