Joy as charity Ice Bucket Challenge raises £7m

Andy Spriggs at Motor Neurone Disease Association event celebrating success of the Ice Bucket Challenge

A Broadbridge Heath man joined Princess Anne in celebrating the success of the Ice Bucket Challenge at a gala last week.

Motor neurone disease sufferer Andy Spriggs, 66, was invited by the Motor Neurone Disease Association to a celebration at the British Medical Association headquarters in London on Thursday February 12.

HRH Princess Anne was also among the guests who hailed the £7m raised in the UK by those taking part in the Ice Bucket Challenge last year.

Andy explained that £5m of the money raised will go towards research looking for a cause and a cure for motor neurone disease, as well as opening up day centres and employing more nurses.

He said: “The Ice Bucket Challenge was a fantastic thing that really snowballed. It took off in America, came across here and raised a fantastic sum of money.

“It raised awareness for MND so a lot more people know about the disease, and The Theory of Everything film has kept it in the public eye.

“On top of that, the ALS society in the States raised $200m. That is a big chunk of money that will be pushed into research.”