Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Appeal for Jo raises £10,000
Cash will go to adapting new bungalow for MND patient
A FUNDRAISER for Tayside’s youngest MND patient has collected more than £10,000 in less than two months.
Jo Knowlton was diagnosed with the disease – which causes lifechanging degeneration of the brain and spinal cord nerves – in August last year.
The 30-year-old first started to notice problems with her hands in February 2019 and was sent for tests.
Since her diagnosis, her motor abilities have deteriorated and left her slow on her feet.
To try to make life easier, Jo is planning to move into a bungalow.
She set up a fundraising page to help with the costs of any alterations she needs to make to the property.
Since setting up the page in early June, more than 200 people have donated and raised a staggering £10,312.
Jo said: “It’s amazing. I am really surprised at how quickly it has accumulated.”
During lockdown Jo, who works for the Scottish Police Authority as an imaging officer, has been on the hunt for a suitable bungalow – something which she said has proved difficult.
“It’s been really quite difficult because a lot of them I have not been able to go in to view,” said Jo, who lives in the West End.
“However, we managed to find one that will work.
“I’m ecstatic that we can finally get things moving.
“I just hope to get it adapted as quickly as possible.”
Jo said she wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported her and made a donation.
She said: “I am overwhelmed with the support and the messages that people have sent me.
“People have done their own mini fundraisers and then added them on to mine.”
Jo – who is still shielding until the end of the month – said it was a nice ending to lockdown.
To donate, visit gofundme and search for Jo Knowlton.