MSA Trust

MSA Trust announces new corporate partner

For immediate release: Thursday 4 September 2014

The Multiple System Atrophy Trust (MSA Trust) is delighted to announce its new corporate partnership with Mask-arade.

Mask-arade is the original Celebrity and Personalised Mask Company. Founded in 2008 by three directors Ray Duffy, Chris O’Nyan and Dean Walton, they shot to fame after appearing on BBC TV’s Dragons’ Den.

Ray Duffy has become passionate about raising awareness about multiple system atrophy (MSA) since his father-in-law was recently diagnosed with the condition.

MSA is a neurodegenerative disease leading to premature death. It causes brain cells to shrink resulting in problems with balance, movement and automatic functions like blood pressure control, swallowing and speech. Some people with MSA say it feels like the disease traps them in their own bodies. There is no known cause or cure for MSA, which strikes at random, usually when people are in their late 50s. The latter stages of MSA can be extremely challenging and people often need around the clock care.

This MSA Trust is the UK’s main source of support for people with MSA, their families and carers. The Trust provides the services of specialist nurses, a support group network, an email and telephone advice service and it funds vital research to find the cause, and one day cure, for MSA.

For the next year, every personalised mask that Mask-arade produces will feature the MSA Trust logo and a unique text-to-donate code.

Commenting on the company’s partnership with the MSA Trust, Ray said:

“We are supporting the MSA Trust after my father-in-law was diagnosed with MSA. We want to help boost awareness and support the Trust’s fantastic work so that, in some small way, we may help the Trust make a difference to people living with MSA.”

Head of Fundraising, at the MSA Trust, Katie Heyward, added:

“We feel really privileged that Mask-arade has chosen the Trust as its corporate partner. Very few people, including health professionals, have heard of this disease and this compounds the isolation and loneliness that people with MSA often experience. We really need to raise awareness about the impact of this devastating disease on the individual and their family and friends. We are so pleased that Mask-arade want to help us achieve this.”

―   ENDS   ―

Contacts:

MSA Trust:

Franca Tranza: franca.tranza@msatrust.org.uk, 07718 42607
Head of Communications

Katie Heyward: Katie.heyward@msatrust.org.uk, 07787 241 555
Head of Fundraising

Ray Duffy:
Mask-arade
(0) 7875 213 964

The MSA Trust is a charity funded entirely by voluntary donations. For further information on our work, read our latest MSA News magazine HERE


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