A FORMER Uttoxeter resident and her brother are preparing to hold a barn dance to raise valuable funds for a charity close to their hearts following the loss of their father.
Teacher Esther Brown and her 24-year-old brother, Edward Glew, will be holding the dance in memory of their father Peter, who died at the age of 54 after a two-year battle with Motor Neurone Disease.
Since he passed away, the siblings, who grew up just outside Abbots Bromley, have decided to hold an event every year to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
Previously they have taken part in the Great North Run with 75 people, the Great South Run with 12 people, the London triathlon and other triathlons in a bid to raise funds.
All together, with the teams, they have raised £15,000.
Mrs Brown, who attended Oldfields Hall Middle School and Thomas Alleyne’s High School, said: “We decided to raise money for MNDA just because of dad. It was something me and my brother could do to help as there is not much you can do to help when someone is suffering.
“They gave my dad so much support as without their money dad would not have had a speaker as he lost his speech quite early on, a lot of the help was from the charity.
“They were really supportive of dad and the family as it is a very big deal when you get told someone has motor neurone disease.
“Dad was really good and didn’t really want anything but this is something we can do to help the charity and other people.” Motor Neurone Disease is a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord which means messages gradually stop reaching muscles, which leads to weakness and wasting.
The MNDA funds research into the devastating disease as well as helping the sufferer and their families.
Mrs Brown, who now lives in Sedgefield near Durham, said most of the money they have raised will be spent on helping the sufferer with equipment as her aunt set up a tribute fund for her father when he died so they can ask for where the money is spent.
The 31-year-old has already been recognised for her fund-raising efforts after she carried the Olympic torch through a village near York.
She said: “It was amazing and my whole family came out. It was a really good day out and I was lucky as it was a sunny day.
“It was really nerve-racking as I kept thinking don’t fall over or drop it.” The barn dance will be held in Abbots Bromley Village Hall from 7pm to midnight on Saturday, November 3 and includes a hog roast.
Mrs Brown added: “With the barn dance and hog roast it will be lots of fun, food and dancing with a raffle with pretty good prizes.” It is hoped around 150 people will attend.
Tickets cost £15 and are available from Mrs Brown on 07738 550526 or by calling her mother Ruth on 01889 500696.
