Property consultant raises charity cash

Sarah Whalley, 40, took part in the Walk To D’Feet MND event, trekking eight miles from Altofts to Newmillerdam, on Sunday, July 17.

She was joined by her twin sister Charlotte Spawforth, sister-in-law Carol Cox, and friends Jane Barwise, Carol Bowles, Shelley Dawson and Sarah Black.

Mrs Whalley and Mrs Spawforth starting fundraising for MND in 2006 after their father Granville Devonshire was diagnosed with the illness in 2000.

The Granville Groupies have raised more than £10,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association over the years.

The charity funds and promotes global research into MND and provides support to people living with the condition.

MND is 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.

Mrs Whalley, who works in Richard Kendall’s Normanton office, said: “When dad was diagnosed with MND it was devastating. Since that time the charity has supported him and we wanted to give something back.

“Dad always buys the water for our group on the walk and he is proud that we all do it. We aren’t sure how much we have raised yet as we are still collecting the donations in, but most years we manage to hit the £1,000 mark.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/granvillesgroupies2016 to donate.