WIREDGOV

People across England living with the muscle weakening condition, Myasthenia Gravis (MG) are set to benefit from a host of regional conferences to offer advice and support.

The conferences are being funded by £50,000 awarded from the Big Lottery Fund’s Reaching Communities programme to the Myasthenia Gravis Association (MGA). The funding programme aims to improve the lives of people in need across England.

Max Sherman, Manager, MGA, said: “We are thrilled to receive this grant which will allow us to hold nine medical conferences throughout the UK benefiting hundreds of Myasthenic Gravis sufferers who often feel isolated and uninformed.  Myasthenia Gravis means muscle weakness.  It can be fatal and can affect all ages and genders.”

MG is a rare 'muscle-weakening' disease that causes loss of speech, movement or even death if left untreated. With no apparent genetic link, it strikes indiscriminately and could affect anyone.

The nine conferences will provide the latest information regarding management of this incurable disease, and encourage myasthenics to support each other by sharing advice and experiences.

A local leading neurologist will host each conference and will provide information and report on the latest research findings. Delegates will have the opportunity to meet the neurologists and ask questions away from a clinical setting. Workshops will also provide specialist advice on how quality of life can be improved and will include topics such as coping skills, pregnancy and disability benefits.

Sanjay Dighe, Chair of the Big Lottery Fund’s England Committee, said: “This Lottery award will help people living with MG to access vital support and information, helping them to improve their lives by understanding and managing the condition.  Not enough people are aware of MG, so it is excellent that BIG is supporting the Myasthenia Gravis Association in its work.”

Further Information

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 020 7211 1888
Out of hours contact: 07867 500 572
Public Enquiries Line: 08454 102030
Textphone:  0845 6021 659

Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Notes to Editors

• Under Reaching Communities, the Big Lottery Fund awards grants between £10,000 and £500,000 to projects that offer people better life chances, build stronger communities, develop improved rural and urban environments and improve health and well being.
• The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out half the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
• BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £22 billion has now been raised and more than 300,500 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.