The 'lifeline' support cafe for MND sufferers

People with motor neurone disease (MND) in Worcestershire have praised an "amazing" cafe, which is aimed at bringing sufferers of the condition together.

The MND Association runs the support sessions at St Richard's Hospice in Worcester, with relatives or carers also encouraged to attend.

Some people at the cafe told the BBC they had developed strong bonds with each other during their darkest times.

Stacy Whittall, 38, from Worcester, who was diagnosed last year said: "It's heartbreaking what we're all going through - it's the most cruel disease."

She and her partner Barry Bozward have been attending the cafe regularly following her diagnosis last July.

A former footballer for West Bromwich Albion, the mum-of-two can no longer walk and uses a ventilator to help her breathe.

"So many people are getting diagnosed with MND - young, healthy people," Whittall added.

"We need to continue meeting together and speaking out about MND, because more needs to be done to find a cure. It's shocking in this day and age, that this can happen to people."

Bozward added: "Obviously finding a cure is the main thing.

"But in terms of this place, it's like the friends you didn't wish you were part of - nobody would choose to be part of the MND community, but once you are here, it's amazing.

"When we first heard about this, I'll be honest, I thought 'is it for us?' But they are the nicest bunch. The dedication of the people here is remarkable."

Olly Adkins, 52, was diagnosed with MND in 2020 during lockdown and said it came "completely out the blue".

"One day I realised all my muscles from my ankle to my neck were twitching," he said.

"I went for tests, which led to the diagnosis - suffice to say I was stunned.

"I was a grounds worker before all this, I worked on drainage and footpaths. I spent all my working life outdoors.

"To be told your life is going to end before it should, is devastating. This cafe has been fantastic - I've met some great people.

"Nobody really knows what you are going through, apart from other people with MND. It's been a lifeline."

Like Whittall, Graham Sumner, 66, from Stourport, was told he had MND last July.

"I accepted what the doctor told me, but when I rang my wife I was so upset I couldn't describe what I had over the phone," he said.

He said the cafe had made a "massive difference" and offered "phenomenal" support.

"It opens all the gateways for all the things we'll end up needing in our lives, like how to apply for grants to make changes in your home, and stuff like that," he said.

"I don't know what I'd do without it."

The MND Association's chief executive said huge efforts are being made to try and secure a breakthrough against the disease.

Tanya Curry said 159 different pieces of research were currently under way, with £20m being spent on it this year alone.

"These research projects are being done on an international scale," she said.

"Steps are being made in the right direction towards where we ultimately want to be, which is never seeing this disease again in the future.

"We've seen a lot of movement towards our aim - we've got scientists that are really hopeful about what's happening, these are people who are working at the forefront of this disease."

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