MEMORIAL FUND SETS UP WEBSITE

09:00 - 24 August 2007



Stephen Pearce's family have launched a website to help raise £50,000 in his name.The 46-year-old from Prestbury died last November of motor neurone disease, just eight weeks after he was diagnosed.

His relatives, friends and work colleagues have already raised £18,000 after setting up the SJP Tribute Fund in February.

They hope to reach £50,000 by the time they hold another big fundraising event in November.


Stephen's niece, Amanda Halliwell, said she hoped the website would boost the fund and help raise awareness of the disease.

She wants people to visit it at www.sjptributefund.co.uk

The 37-year-old said: "There's only three of us really, myself, Stephen's widow Ann and their 18-year-old son Lewis.

"But we've managed to do this with the help of other people. A website designer, for example, has offered his help for free. Everyone helping us has a link with MND.

"We've been so overwhelmed with the support so we've taken the fund on to the next stage.

"The awareness levels of MND are very low, despite it being such a cruel disease."

Motor neurones are the nerve cells along which the brain sends instructions, via electrical impulses, to the muscles. Progressive degeneration leads to weakness and wasting.

Stephen was told he could live for another five years when he was diagnosed but his condition suddenly nose-dived. Just weeks before, he had seemed healthy and was working as head of merchandising for sports firm M &M Direct.

The family's fund was boosted by £1,230 raised at a garden party with the Roy Kirby Jazz Band at the Hilton Puckrup Hall Hotel, near Tewkesbury, last Sunday.

Now the family are staging a corporate dinner and auction at the same hotel on November 3. Bids can be made on the website.

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