Nigel Brasier from Boston recently met The Princess Royal, Princess Anne during a special event to raise awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and how the condition affects people.
Nigel was diagnosed with PLS, a slower version of MND, in 2013 but had been experiencing symptoms for over six years before receiving his diagnosis. His muscles are gradually getting weaker, making everyday tasks harder and he uses metal splints on his legs to support his walking.
As a thank-you for raising over £20,000 for the charity MND Association he was invited to their annual Showcase event in Kettering on 6th June. Here, he met the charity’s patron, The Princess Royal.
Nigel says: “It was an honour to meet her, she made me feel very relaxed. We had a lovely chat about my fundraising, which was an amazing experience.”
St Barnabas has provided Nigel with numerous therapies over the years to support him with his condition, and in collaboration with the charity MND Association he hosts a monthly MND support group in our Wellbeing Centre in Boston.
This friendly, informal group meets every fourth Thursday of the month from 11am – 12:30pm at the Centre, known as Novak House.
Nigel says: “People who are living with MND, their family, friends and carers are all very welcome to come along. It’s free to attend and there’s a very relaxed atmosphere.
“We have a brew and we discuss whatever comes up. That could be a serious topic like how MND is affecting us, but usually it’s a lot of laughs, talking about anything and everything, or playing some games.
“If you’d like to see what the group is like, you don’t need to book. Just turn up, we next meet on 27th July. I look forward to meeting you!”
To find out more about support groups in Boston and other areas of Lincolnshire, visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/wellbeing/
