A Northumberland couple were left feeling "numb" when Natalie Lynn was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2024. The 64-year-old from Stannington first noticed something was wrong when she began slurring her words, which led people to mistakenly believe she had been drinking.
Diagnosis and Initial Reaction
Natalie was diagnosed in February 2024. Her husband David recalled: "We were numb initially, and it took a while to come to terms with it. But we've had a lot of help from the MND Association, at first through a helpline which was excellent and pointed us in the right direction." The couple now attend a local support group run by volunteers who have also been affected by MND.
Living with MND
Two years on, Natalie has lost her ability to speak and swallow but remains relatively mobile. David said: "We're lucky – I keep saying this, we are lucky. Natalie still gets up, gets on with it and enjoys life." Natalie communicates by writing and expressed her determination: "You just have to live every day as though it was your last." The couple have a road trip planned for the summer.
Charity Golf Day
The couple spoke after a charity golf day organised by the Cramlington and Wansbeck Rotary Association across three courses: Newbiggin, Bedlingtonshire, and Morpeth. The event was inspired by Michael Metcalfe, a friend of David and Natalie and a Rotarian. He said: "I just wanted to support David and Natalie and I knew how much the MND Association had helped them."
Retired GP and Rotary Club President Dr Dick Quinby highlighted the importance of fundraising: "MND places a huge burden not only on the people living with it, but on their families too. There's no cure as such, but all sorts of research is being done." He added: "It's been wonderful to see so many people come together, enjoy a great day of golf and raise money for such an important cause."
Support from MND Association
Dominic McDonough, relationship fundraiser at the MND Association, thanked the organisers: "Every penny raised will make a huge difference, helping us to support those living with MND and their families in the community. Thanks to the money raised we are a day closer to making MND a thing of the past."
The couple's story highlights the importance of early support and community fundraising in the fight against MND.
