Member Article

MS charity celebrating new corporate partnership with UNW

Local charity MS Research and Relief Fund (MSRRF) is looking to the future after being announced as chartered accountancy and business advisory firm UNW’s chosen Charity of the Year for 2018/19.

Based in Morpeth with nine outreach centres across the North East, MSRRF supports people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and their families. A chronic, progressive disease affecting the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, people affected by MS commonly experience severe fatigue, numbness and impairment of muscle coordination and speech.

MSRRF was founded in 1964 in Cheshire, before operations were moved to the North East in the 1980’s. The charity currently has over 1000 registered service users who it provides with complementary therapies and exercise classes, as well as grants providing access to specific equipment to truly limit the impact the condition has on their lives.

Through its staff-run charity committee, Newcastle-based UNW regularly raises funds for wide variety of organisations, with recent beneficiaries including Charlie Bear for Cancer Care, Caring Hands and Newcastle Women’s Aid. The new partnership with MSRRF follows on from a hugely successful two years with Gosforth-based children’s charity Smile for Life, for who UNW raised over £20,000 through a sponsored walk, cycling challenge and various activities within its Citygate office.

MSRRF receives no statutory funding, relying on donations and fundraising. The criteria of UNW’s nominated charity of the year specifies that chosen organisation must be local and independent to ensure fundraising efforts deliver the maximum impact over the course of the 12 months. Initial plans include a 27-mile sponsored coastal castle walk from Warkworth to Bamburgh in October 2018.

Andrew Wilson, UNW Managing Partner, said: “We’re delighted that MS Research and Relief Fund has been chosen by colleagues as UNW’s new charity of the year in 2018. The work the charity does for people affected by MS in the North East, and their families, is vital to make their lives just that little bit easier.

“Over the years our fundraising activities have made a huge difference to a wide range of local, independent charitable organisations, delivering significant impact not only for the organisations themselves, but also the personal development of colleagues too. We’re extremely excited about the upcoming year.”

Dan Nelson, Fundraising Manager at MS Research and Relief Fund said “Everyone at MS Research and Relief Fund is delighted that UNW have chosen us to be their new Charity of the Year. One of our major challenges is brand awareness in the North East, and so to be aligned with a leading North East business is massive for the charity.

“The money and profile that UNW can raise for us will make a real difference to the quality of local people’s lives who are affected by MS. UNW’s fundraising activities will fund new equipment and allow us to provide a greater number of free of charge complimentary therapies and exercise classes that help alleviate the symptoms of MS.”

UNW is a leading independent firm of chartered accountants that deliver a wide range of business advisory services to its clients. For more information, please visit www.unw.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Turnbull .