Creatives showcase their talents Supporters raise over £60,000

Our makeit! in March Facebook challenge bought together more than 1,000 creative supporters who used their skills to raise an impressive £60,000. People were encouraged to get involved in any form of creative activity, across the month, from knitting to baking, crafting to crocheting and painting.

They raised money by either selling their ‘makes’ or getting sponsored for spending time crafting every day throughout March. The flexibility of the challenge allowed everyone to showcase their talents and contribute to the cause in their own unique way.

Louise Cleaton took part to show her support for her brother Mark, who is living with MND. Louise said: ”Mark is fighting with every ounce of his energy and has made it his mission to spread awareness, raise funds and support others with MND. We are super proud of him. Mark, his friends and our community, who are all amazing, have completed many challenges, bike rides, mountain hikes, marathons and rugby matches, all too physical for me. I was at a loss as to how I could participate and then this challenge was announced, and I knew it was for me.

“The makeit! challenge came along at just the right time. Perfect for me to finally contribute to raising funds towards MND research into a cure for this devastating disease. This challenge has restored my passion [for sewing] and even pushed me to try new projects which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. The response has been overwhelming, people have been so generous and caring.”

Kate Johnson joined the challenge after her sister, Mandy, died from MND. She said: “I really struggled mentally after my sister’s short fight with MND. I was principle carer for Mandy, along with her daughter and best friend. It was so difficult watching a strong person deteriorating mentally and physically. After she died, I found going back to work really difficult.

“Signing up for the makeit! challenge was really therapeutic, it was such a positive experience. I decided to host a coffee morning at home to sell everything I had made during the month. I had massive support from family and friends and raised a staggering £1,165.”

As an extra incentive, participants who raised over £100 were eligible to claim their own makeit! tote bag. The £60,000 raised by our creative crafters is enough to fund a full-time care co-ordinator at one of our MND Care Centres for a whole year.

Like other Facebook challenges, makeit! fostered a strong sense of community. Makers shared their progress, offered encouragement, and provided inspiration to one another through the dedicated Facebook group.

Find out about our upcoming Facebook challenges by visiting www.mndassociation.org/ facebookchallenge