 TV presenter Matthew Kelly presents this edition of Cause Celeb – where celebrities do their bit for charity. He is the President of the NeuroMuscular Centre (NMC) based in Winsford, Cheshire. Matthew's wife Sarah set up the charity 14 years ago with a physiotherapist to support people living with Muscular Dystrophy.
Matthew says, “For me this is not really a Cause Celeb, it's a Cause Celeb's wife. She sorted this place out, she found a need and she did something about it. She's always supported me in my life and career and the very least I could do was the same for her."
Sarah was a teacher in a special needs school and encountered a lot of kids with Muscular Dystrophy. She was frustrated that these children got no support once they turned 16. She says, “If I was absolutely honest I think the emotion that I made me feel that we needed to start something like this was anger, because there was no provision when young people left school who had MD most of them are very bright very able people but their bodies are becoming less able, and there just was not the support or things on offer that everyone else had.”
 The NMC is related to the national charity Muscular Dystrophy Campaign. The centre offers services to people of all ages living with MD. As well as advice and support for people with MD they run physiotherapy and training for young people so they can gain qualifications.
School leavers with MD can train in computer based graphics and gain qualifications. Plus there is a chance to work in the onsite design company, which offers sheltered employment for young people with MD. Dan Cundall is the Head of Design and says, “There are things that slow you down and you realise there will be things in your way. Its about finding the best way around it. The best solution. Somewhere like this just opens up so many avenues you don’t have to worry about having MD when you come to work.”
The final word goes to Matthew: “I know all the people here and I've been involved for a long time. And it's a community. I really like being part of a community. I also like the idea of level playing fields for people, thing being fair to people. When I was a kid and I used to moan about things not being fair and my dad used to say ‘oh nothing in life's fair’. And I never thought that was a good answer. I know it's true but I think things should be fair and if their not we should work towards things being fairer.”
If you’d like to volunteer at the NeuroMuscular Centre then get in touch with them by calling: 01606 861733 or visiting the website: www.nmcentre.com
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Last Updated ( Monday, 06 March 2006 )
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