2022 Community Fundraiser of the Year: Kirsty Mallinson
Kirsty, along with family and friends, took on the Three Peaks Challenge to fundraise for the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience in memory of her sister, Gemma.
Kirsty organised the group's Three Peaks Challenge in memory of Gemma Mallinson. Gemma sadly died from MND in 2020. The group, including Gemma's partner, family & friends, raised over £5,000 to support of motor neurone disease research at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN).
Kirsty says:
Back in 2020 pre-pandemic Gemma started with slurred speech, difficulties eating and weakness in her limbs. In April, Gemma was admitted into hospital as a result of an A&E visit. After weeks of tests and assessments our family received the devastating news that changed our lives forever".
Gemma, a 34 year old mother of two, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and was given a terminal diagnosis. Despite this, Gemma remained positive. She set herself goals of seeing Bella, her daughter, start school and her son, Bayley, go to his high school prom.
But, after a very short illness, Gemma sadly passed away on 1st August 2020. Just a few months after her diagnosis.
From her transfer to Sheffield hospital, Gemma was supported by the staff at the Sheffield MND Care and Research Centre, many of whom are based in SITraN. Kirsty says:
Gemma was provided with the most amazing support and hope during a very dark time. We wanted to provide some well deserved funding to support the continued hard work carried out at the Centre. Our hope is that, one day, other families won’t have to experience the loss that we have”.
Since August 2021, Kirsty and her family have organised several fundraisers to raise money for SITraN. Thank you to Kirsty and Gemma's family for your fantastic support.
Donate to Kirsty's JustGiving page, if you would like to support the team's fundraising.