Toyota, MND Association Team Up to Raise Funds, Awareness in UK

The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association and Toyota (GB), the U.K. division of Toyota, have established a partnership to raise funds and improve awareness for the needs of people with disorders that include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The staff at Toyota (GB) selected MND Association as the company’s national charity partner during a process in which all employees were asked to name a charity. After a shortlisted selection of charities, employees voted on their charity of choice. From that list, the Great Britain charity for people with motor neuron diseases was chosen.

“Everyone here is so excited that the MND Association has been selected as the new charity partner of Toyota,” Linda Allen, the director of fundraising for the MND Association, said in a press release.

The 3-year initiative, which officially started April 1, will involve a range of activities such as sponsored walks, auctions, and a Directors’ Challenge for the company’s board that will raise funds for the association. The events will be planned by Toyota staff members.

“We are confident that our combined focus and efforts over the next three years will have a positive impact on the quality of life for those living with and affected by motor neurone disease and we very much look forward to working with Toyota staff,” Allen said.

The MND Association aims to improve access to care and promote research that ultimately helps people with motor neuron diseases living in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Among its many initiatives, the organization supports access to equipment, such as grab rails, wheelchairs, and communication aids, and advises patients on financial benefits. The MND Association also provides access to key information for patients, caregivers, and advocates about the various conditions under its umbrella. Support also is available through MND grants whenever other services, like NHS, are not available or have waiting lists.

“As a company focused on achieving ever better mobility for all, we were very impressed with the MND Association’s strong focus on improving mobility through wheelchair adaption, to enable independence for those living with the disease,” said Agustín Martín, president and managing director of Toyota (GB).

“The MND Association was the smallest of the charities considered for our national charity partnership, so we hope our fund-raising over the next three years will give a significant boost to the support they can offer to people living with the disease and to invest in research that will increase understanding of the disease, develop treatments and ultimately a cure,” Martín added.