In September 2014 Almancil International Rotary Club (AIRC) member Uschi Kuhn organised an Ice Bucket Challenge at the Conrad hotel to raise awareness and funds for sufferers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, perhaps better known as motor neurone disease (MND), a progressive disease that attacks the motor neurones, or nerves, in the brain and spinal cord. This means messages gradually stop reaching muscles which leads to weakness and wasting.
More than €1,000 was raised and AIRC has just received news that the money was used to purchase a specially adapted wheelchair for Sra Maria Conceição dos Santos, who lives in S. Domingos de Rana in Lisbon. Sra Maria, aged 60 developed the disease four years ago. She is now unable to talk and communicates through a computer.
“The chair is going to make a huge difference to her life” said AIRC President José Galamba. “This is what Rotary is about. Thanks to Uschi, our members and all the people who took part in the Challenge we have been able to change the life of a lady who is suffering from this terrible and debilitating disease. Uschi will very shortly be the 2015/2016 President of our club and I’m sure she will come up with many more fundraising ideas for good causes”.
