From Premier League Champions to Sunday League sides, Manchester’s football clubs are taking time out to help raise awareness for motor neurone disease.
This is thanks to Mark Maddox, a former Altrincham FC player who has started the Football v MND campaign which uses the beautiful game to highlight awareness of the progressive muscle disease.
Mr Maddox is delighted by the response of the footballing community since he began the campaign after he was diagnosed with the disease in 2010.
“Aside from my family, the support of the football community matters so much to me,” said Mr Maddox.
“People I’ve played with have seen what MND is doing to me, how it’s changed my life and will ultimately end it.
“They’re well behind Football v MND but I want to reach out to the players and fans across the country that I can’t talk to personally.”
In order to do that Football v MND is aiming to get 300 football teams to include a poster of Mr Maddox’s story in their match day programmes.
So far nine Greater Manchester clubs have taken part in the campaign including the current Premier League Champions Manchester United.
Mr Maddox is targeting 300 clubs to match the 300 appearances he made for Skrill North side Altrincham FC.
Last May Mr Maddox received the Non-League Paper Special Achieved Award in recognition of his incredible efforts to raise funds and awareness for motor neurone disease.
These efforts include him running the London Marathon, jumping out of a plane at 15,000ft and forming a band with his friends.
“I always say I’m living with MND, not dying from it and I’m still the same bloke,” he told MM.
“I love my music, my football and my family, and a good laugh. Life’s too short to be miserable… trust me.”
Motor neurone disease is a rapidly progressive disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.
The fatal disease, which is non-curable, kills five people every day in the UK.
Mr Maddox now wants to start another campaign to get the public involved in raising awareness by taking part in a crossbar challenge.
This involves people sending videos of themselves and friends attempting to hit the crossbar to the Motor Neurone Disease Association’s Facebook page.
“The last game I ever played was my testimonial at Altrincham FC which was pretty emotional and that’s when I realised how powerful football is at getting my message out there,” he said.
“It’s not just about fundraising; I want people to understand what MND is.
“So it doesn’t matter who you support, you can get involved in Football v MND by encouraging your team to share my message.”
For more information on Football v MND, click here.
Image courtesy of Motor Neurone Disease Association via YouTube, with thanks
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
