I’m supporting the United To End MND campaign calling for £50 million injection over five years to target research into motor neurone disease which kills six people every day. United to End MND is led by a coalition of MND charities, neurologists and people with MND

Along with other MPs, I’ve written to the Minister for Care, Helen Whately, in advance of her meeting with campaign leaders later this month. The letter urges the Minister to expand Government funding for MND research which, according to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, currently stands at less than £5 million a year. The charity itself has recently committed £5.7 million to research this year.

The campaign, United to End MND, led by the MND Association, MND Scotland, My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, neurologists and people with the disease, is calling on the Government to invest £50 million over five years in research directly targeted at understanding the causes and identifying potential treatments and ultimately a cure for the disease.

A petition launched by the coalition to garner public support gathered more than 100,000 signatures in just three weeks, meaning the topic will now be considered for a debate in Parliament.

As Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on MND, I support the call for increased Government funding for MND research. MND is such a devastating disease and I want to do everything I can to support my constituents with the condition and their families.”

MND Association Chief Executive Sally Light said: “We are very grateful for the support of MPs across the political spectrum who have understood the importance of the United to End MND campaign. Four decades of MND research has brought us to the point where all those involved believe we are on the cusp of life-changing breakthroughs. Now is the right time for the Government to make a real commitment to target investment into the research needed to take us over that line.”

For more information about the campaign visit www.mndassociation.org/unitedtoendMND