Progressive Community Award provides £1,050 funding for Ballymena Myasthenia Gravis Sufferers

The money from Progressive will help the organisation to produce and distribute a newsletter to continue to reach out to people affected by MG across Northern Ireland, providing information and support where it is most needed to those who are often isolated and vulnerable.

MGA provides sufferers of the disease with support through a quarterly newsletter, website and forums, phone support from a specialist nurse and through the local branch meetings.

In addition, sufferers and carers in Ballymena meet informally and help newly diagnosed MG patients to come to terms with the disease.

Myasthenia Gravis is an auto-immune disease which is characterised by fluctuating, sometimes fatal, muscle weakness.

Jan Beaumont explains: “The name ‘Myasthenia Gravis’ comes from the Greek and Latin words for ‘grave muscular weakness”. It results in loss of effectiveness in the muscles of the arms, legs and eyes and affects every 1 in 10,000 people. It is estimated that for every diagnosed sufferer of MG, there are at least two to three others whose condition is undetected.”

The charity supports suffers by providing information, advice and guidance on health and practical matters. It funds research to improve treatments and to hopefully one day find a cure for this life-altering condition.

Seven organisations, all committed to working for the benefit of their local communities, received support totalling £6,550 in this, the latest round of the Progressive Community Award Scheme.

Members of the Society who wish to nominate a community group for consideration for a future Award can contact their local branch of Progressive Building Society or download a form from the ‘About Progressive In the Community’ page on www.theprogressive.com. The Community Awards are issued twice a year.

For further information about support in the Ballymena area and Myasthenia Gravis Association across Northern Ireland email [email protected].