MND research breakthrough

● Sioned Roberts Jones from Llanrug was 34 and mother to three young children when she received the devastating news that she had Motor Neurone Disease, a degenerative condition that kills more than half of those diagnosed within two years Fortunately for Sioned and her family, the progress of her condition has been slow, and she is able to live a full life as mother, grandmother and a busy volunteer with the North West Wales MND Fundraising and Support Groups. “I have general weakness in my body, muscle pains and spasms, but my medication controls and sometimes eradicates my symptoms entirely. Some days are worse than others, and I need to use a stick to walk quite often. It’s the day to day getting about that can be different, especially as I like to be busy with my family, and my baby grandson Efan.” Sioned was a fervent supporter of the online Ice Bucket Challenge that went viral during the summer of 2014, a fundraising initiative encouraging people to pour freezing cold water over themselves and make a donation to a charity researching the possible causes of MND. Dismissed as just an online fad by many, the challenge went on to raise £88m for MND research, and it was announced this week that the money raised has funded a breakthrough in the research, and brought a greater understanding of what causes the disease one step closer. Many high profile people took part in the challenge, including Sian Gwenllian AM and Hywel Williams MP, and they are extremely pleased that the money raised has produced results so quickly. ● Pictured are Sioned Roberts Jones from Llanrug Sian Gwenllian AM and Hywel Williams MP,