MSA Trust

International Women’s day

Today (8 March) is international Women’s day and that set me thinking about the incredible women who have helped us here at Multiple System Atrophy Trust.

First there was our amazing founder Sarah Matheson, who set this charity up with a group of friends in 1997, after receiving a diagnosis of MSA. She had two major concerns – trying to alleviate some of the isolation felt by people with this rare condition with information and support; and how to get research undertaken to try to find out what causes it and ultimately how to cure it. The idea for a charity had been born and here we are almost 20 years later remembering Sarah and her incredible zest for life.

Then we had on our first Board of Trustees wonderful women such as Eileen, Lady Strathnaver, who became the first chairperson of the charity and led it through the first 10 years of development. Eileen’s incredible energy and commitment helped to cement the charity’s standing in the wider context and enabled us to spread its wings to many other parts of the UK.

Our current chair Professor Clare Fowler CBE continues to lead us with a steady hand, reaching as many people as possible through her talks and her interest in all the current research.

Our wonderful MSA Nurse Specialists, Samantha, Katie and Jill, who tirelessly support people living with MSA and their families at neurology clinics, support groups, on the phone and via email to ensure as much information and support as possible reaches people affected by MSA.

Our Support group Leaders (and I know the gentlemen who help to lead many won’t mind me highlighting the work of the lady Support Group Leaders) who organise meetings for people with MSA, their carers and family members to offer mutual support and information locally.

And where would we be without our amazing fundraisers and volunteers, who work tirelessly to raise funds and awareness through all sorts of exciting events to support the work we do.

The list is endless and I count myself very lucky to have had the pleasure of working with or knowing many of these notable woman. On international Women’s Day we raise a cheer for our Amazing women at MSA Trust.


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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