Club Chronicle

23 July 2026: Liane Iles: MND Foundation

Our guest speaker today was Liane Iles, Co-Founder of the MND Foundation, which was registered as a charity last year. Motor Neurone Disease is a progressive and incurable disease affecting about 1,100 new patients per year. The average life expectancy of an MND sufferer is just 27 months from diagnosis, with about half dying within a year. The average age at diagnosis is 55 but an increasing number of people are being diagnoses in the twenties and thirties. Many doctors will only come across one case in the course of their careers.

The Foundation works with other charities, the NHS, hospices and researchers to address needs which are currently unmet and to provide sufferers and their families with support from the time of diagnosis. One of its visions is to establish regional centres of excellence where all the specialists needed to treat MND are together in one place. At the moment a sufferer may need to consult up to eight different specialists, requiring eight separate appointments.

To start with the Foundation is concentrating its efforts in Essex. In addition it is funding an MND clinician within the Queen Square Neurology Team in London, This facilitates the administration of Tofersen to those with the genetic form of the disease, where it has been shown to slow the progression of the disease.

Rotary Young Musician District Final

Report by Anne Moriaty

The District Final took place in Brentwood Cathedral on Saturday 28 February in the presence of the Deputy Mayor of Chelmsford, Cllr Smita Rajesh, and her consort.

The audience were treated to a lovely concert with high standard performances from five vocalists and six instrumentalists. Sadly there could only be two winners going through to the Regional Final and after lengthy deliberations the accolades went to pianist Tailin Liu sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bishops Stortford and vocalist Harry Sunderland sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dunmow.

Our Chelmsford winners, Henrietta Lawrence and Chloe Mahler were worthy runners-up.

I had the honour of giving out the certificates and the Deputy Mayoress presented the winner and runner-up trophies.

Collection for Marie Curie

On 25 February 2026 President Graham, Francis Whitbread, Keith Dabbs, Anne Moriety and Steve, worked as a team at Morrisons Supermarket to collect monies on behalf of the Marie Curie charity. We collected a handsome sum, of which £80 was collected via card payment through the “SumUp” device. We enjoyed the day and special thanks to Francis who made the arrangements and remained all day throughout others’ slots. A photo opportunity could not go amiss.