As part of their continued commitment to charities in the local community, KPMG Isle of Man has formally announced its association with the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA). The charity provides practical help and support to people living with this poorly understood disease. The MNDA is a local charity, affiliated to a larger UK network of the same name but run and funded independently with the support and backup of the national MNDA. Motor Neurone Disease is a progressive, fatal illness that can affect anyone, with life expectancy after the onset of symptoms between two to five years. While the cause is unknown and there is currently no cure, the MNDA seeks to provide support to people living with the disease. On the suggestions of their staff, KPMG recently decided to take on an annual charity, highlighting and supporting a different cause each year. MNDA was chosen internally by way of a vote to be the first such charity to be supported in 2011. Two MNDA members then attended KPMG’s recent AGM to talk about the charity, and fundraising efforts have already begun in earnest. The recent ‘Santa Dash’ raised over ?500 in sponsorship and KPMG intends to run further fundraisers every month. Some of these will be small events, such as dress downs and cake sales, while others will be more substantial, with sponsored walks and celebrity events planned for later in the year. The money collected will go towards equipment for MNDA patients such as recliner chairs and stair lifts, overnight nursing care to give carers a break and occasionally towards supporting research projects that might aid understanding of the disease, via the UK MNDA. Sinead O’Connor, Senior Manager of Advisory at KPMG, commented on the company’s role in supporting the charity: “One of KPMG’s core values is ‘We are committed to our communities’. While we always try to respond appropriately when major disasters happen, such as the Haitian disaster, it is particularly important to us that we can bring to light and support some of the less obvious causes that are just as worthy of support. The people at the MNDA really are unsung heroes and we are proud to be helping them provide their valuable services.” Sue Robinson, the chair of the MNDA on the Isle of Man, also commented: “It’s fantastic to have KPMG’s support. We are a small but hard working team and the sort of funds that supporters like KPMG bring can make a real difference to what we can achieve, particularly in terms of providing equipment for sufferers. We would like to thank them all for their time, their enthusiasm and their selfless attitudes.” KPMG Isle of Man has a strong history in the field of charitable giving. In the last year alone the staff raised around ?10,000 for the Haiti crisis, supported various initiatives by the Children’s Centre, had a feeding station at the Parish Walk, took part in the Hospice Midnight Walk and raised over ?2,800 for the Pakistan flood appeal with a sponsored bed push, in conjunction with Nobles Hospital. For 2011 the company has pledged to continue to support other such local and international initiatives that arise, over and above their continued association with MNDA. -ENDS-