A COWDENBEATH woman whose mum suffers from Motor Neurone Disease (MND) was overwhelmed as teammates helped her raise nearly £1,600 for charity.

Morna McMurray’s mother, Helen, 64, was diagnosed in May last year and Morna has since held various events to support MND Scotland.

The fundraising drive has been incredibly successful with the charity presented with a cheque for £1,592 by the 26-year-old and members of Kirkcaldy Netball Club, based at Beath High School.

“I can’t really put it into words how much this means to me,” Morna told the Times. “Motor Neurone Disease is absolutely horrendous. I cannot explain to you how awful it truly is.

“MND Scotland have been great in helping me and my family. They helped with grants for adapting the house and the financial implications of my mum’s illness, like providing background support in arranging entitled benefits; it’s all new to me and stressful, but they have been amazing.

“I wanted to give back to them in some way and no matter what happens in the future, I’ll always be doing so for the rest of my life.”

Morna is chair of the netball club which trains on Wednesday nights at Beath High’s old games hall, and thanked those at the club for taking part and helping organise fundraising events for the charity.

“If I didn’t have netball, I’m not sure where I’d be,” she says. “It is an escape for me. It’s where I am if not working or with my mum, so it keeps me grounded.

“The club is, and has been, fantastic for me. It’s a massive part of my life and the club ethos is brilliant. It means so much to me that the club wanted to help. They wanted to give back to me for what I’ve been doing.”

A silent disco was one of the main fundraisers with a range of lucrative raffle prizes up for grabs. And there are more events to come.

“The people from MND can’t say thank you enough,” she said. “They are so grateful for the support, but they have done so much for us.”

Rachel Maitland, from MND Scotland, said: “I would like to thank and congratulate Morna and the Kirkcaldy Netball Club for raising a fantastic amount of money that will help us to provide direct support to people across Scotland affected by MND, as well as helping us to fund vital and life changing research.

"While we continue funding the pioneering research which is taking us closer to a cure, we are here as a helping hand of support, so people like Helen can spend the time they have left making precious memories with the ones they love. Together, we will make time count.”