Looking Back on 2025 with the MSA Trust Team
As we approach the New Year and bid farewell to 2025 we would like to take a moment to reflect on the past year at the Trust. This is also an opportune time to wish all of our members a happy New Year and to thank all those who have supported us. We have invited the MSAT staff team to share their reflections and highlight moments from the past year. Please take a moment to read their reflections below.
“One of My favourite memories this year was meeting and chatting with members of the MSA Community in Edinburgh at our Candlelight event (17.05.25). A wonderful uplifting event of music, poems and information, so many special people there, two of our trustees, one of our scientific advisory Panel and the niece of our founder opened our proceedings. We had wonderful singing from the choir, and we shared some tears when we lit our candles in memory of those lost to us because of MSA.
Thinking of 2026, I am looking forward to our 4th research symposium, so many exciting things happening in research and so much possibility, I am really hopeful for a real breakthrough in the next few years. And as the sun warms us all up I can’t wait for the next summer social, when so many names will be added to our Path to a cure and we will all meet at Sarah’s Wood once again.
Wishing everyone a really happy and Peaceful New Year.”
-Karen Walker, CEO
“As ever, I have been in awe of the resilience of our MSA community and the commitment of colleagues at the Trust in supporting them however we can.
Next year we are looking to further develop this support to keep pace with rising demand as we reach even more people affected by MSA.”
-Andy Barrick, CEO
“This year I’m proud to see the MSA Trust engaging in a more collaborative international stage. We have been invited to conferences and worked with professionals around the world to try and collaborate on services, policy and research to ensure that we are providing relevant information to people affected by MSA.
It was great to work on the re-launch of your MSA News magazine. This is one of our most used resources, which goes to everyone in our MSA Community and we had been told it needed a refresh. We worked hard to ensure the magazine was longer, had more content to support people with MSA, was clearer and more accessible to readers. I really hope you all enjoy reading your editions and continue to do so into 2026.”
-Emma Rushton, Head of Operations: Information and Services
“I am, as I am every year, so proud of our fundraisers. It is the incredible kindness, generosity, and support that our MSA community shows to one another. Our entire organisation is sustained and able to continue because of the generosity of the one-off donations our fundraisers give, as well as the challenges and events they organise. None of the incredible work carried out by our support team, social welfare team, and healthcare professional team would be possible without our fundraisers. I am most proud to have the opportunity to work alongside all of you, and I am so excited to see the inspiring and amazing fundraisers you come up with in 2026.”
-Eleanor Jarvis, Events, Community and Digital Fundraising Officer.
“I always enjoy attending our online support groups and having the opportunity to hear from and chat with so many amazing people. This year we piloted our Social Welfare Service (SWS) webinars; topics included welfare benefits, social care and NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). The two pilot sessions were a great success; over 160 people joined us online, sharing their experiences and asking lots of great questions. I look forward to co-hosting more SWS webinars in 2026.”
-Sam Fitzgerald, Social Welfare Specialist
“I’ve been super proud of the whole Team, who continue to do an incredible job supporting our MSA Community with tiny resources. Personally, I’m proud of supporting our Research processes in our drive to find the cause and cure for MSA, and our Fundraising Team in ensuring we have sufficient funds next year to build on everything we achieved this year. Oh, I’m also taking the plunge and leaving the NHS to commit to working at MSA Trust full time as of January – exciting times!”
-Nikki Webster, Executive Assistant
“I was really pleased that we could host our regular memorial event, MSA candlelight in Edinburgh this year. It was an emotional afternoon reflecting on the lives of those we have sadly lost to MSA.”
-Tanya Mitra, Senior Fundraising Officer
“The Social Welfare Specialist Team ran a campaign to oppose the proposed change to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a benefit to which many of the MSA community are entitled. The support we received from our community was fantastic. It was really gratifying to be able to have input into government policy, and we will continue our work in 2026 to ensure that people living with MSA, their carers and families, are not adversely affected by any benefit changes.”
-Louise Hardy, Social Welfare Specialist
“I am proud of overseeing the MSA Trust Voice Banking Project. Since we began in 2020 the Trust has funded over 600 voices, enabling our community members to continue communicating effectively.”
-Mandy Byrne, Information and Services Coordinator
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the blogs published on these pages are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the MSA Trust.
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