Latest news with #MotorNeurone
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
‘Powerful' biopic featuring ‘moving' performance from Harry Potter star will have fans in tears
A Harry Potter star has fans sobbing at his 'brilliant' performance in a film that is now ready to watch for free. A 'moving' Oscar Award-winning biopic can now be enjoyed at the click of a button, 11 years after its initial release. The Theory of Everything takes a deep dive into the life and work of modern-day genius Stephen Hawking who, from a very young age, had unprecedented success in the fields of physics. Despite suffering from Motor Neurone Disease at the age of 21, Hawking continued to defeat the odds with the 2014 film not only focussing on his career but his turbulent relationship with his wife Jane. Actor Eddie Redmayne, who is renowned for starring in Les Miserables, Harry Potter 's Fantastic Beasts franchise and The Danish Girl, stars as Hawking himself and won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2015. He stars opposite actress Felicity Jones as Hawking's wife Jane, with the 41-year-old also remembered for her roles in The Brutalist, On The Basis of Sex, Inferno and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Eleven years after it made its global debut, The Theory of Everything can now be watched for free. Redmayne and Jones' The Theory of Everything has been dropped on BBC iPlayer today, Monday, August 18, and is entirely free to watch. The only thing needed to get access to the streamer is a registered email address and fans are good to go. The award-winning biopic scored an impressive 81% on Rotten Tomatoes when it first came out with fans singing the stars' praises. Posting on the review aggregator, someone commented: 'Redmayne's physical performance astounds, and Jones makes a wonderfully empathetic female lead.' Another agreed: 'Jones and Redmayne give this study of a scientific mind something special - heart.' A third remarked: 'It seems that The Theory of Everything doesn't have to theorize as much to prove that Eddie Redmayne is staging, perhaps, one of the best performances of the year.' While another added: 'The Theory of Everything is an interesting story about a genius, but it will be the performances by Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones that will stay with you.' The Theory of Everything is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jon Lee's mum feared he was dead after S Club singer 'went missing' for two years
Former S Club 7 star emotionally opened up about his father's death during tonight's Celebs Go Dating, and how he didn't speak to his mum for two years while he was grieving It was former S Club 7 star Jon Lee who became emotional during tonight's episode of Celebs Go Dating, as he opened up about his father's tragic death. Jon's sadly lost his father in 2014, after he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. The star, who was very close to his dad, told dating experts Anna Williamson and Dr Tara that he "lost the plot" after his fathers death. Opening up to the agents in Ibiza, the star opened up about how his dad had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease at the same time he found out his boyfriend had been unfaithful the entire time they were together. "I had an emotional slap from this relationship, and then that happened. And I hadn't quite recovered myself from that, and then that happened as well and everything fell apart." Opening up further, Jon expressed how close he was to his father, as he was seen tearing up in front of the agents. "Within the first year, he'd completely lost the ability to move, he couldn't speak, he had to be fed through a tube in his stomach. He couldn't talk to me. To go out like that, I literally lost the plot. I thought, 'What the f**k is the point?' It broke my heart. Explaining on how he dealt with the grief, Jon continued: "I went out, I was taking loads of drugs. I went completely off the rails. That got to a point where I had to make a decision. I had to sort myself out or it wasn't going to end well." Jon then recalled packing a bag, and never going back to his home. "I wrote to my mum, I sent her my front door key. I wrote her a note saying I don't know where I'm going, I don't know what I'm doing, but I need to sort myself out." The former popstar then left the country for four years, telling the agents how he didn't even speak to his mum for two of them. "She didn't know where I was. She said every time the phone rang she thought it was going to be the police saying, 'We found Jon and he's dead.' That's my biggest regret, that I caused her..." he said as he broke down in tears. Earlier in the conversation, Jon opened up about how he felt he had to hide his sexuality while in the band, and didn't really get to experience dating until they broke up in 2003. Jon was just 15 when the band started, as he told the agents he didn't have an opportunity to figure out who he was in the real world. Although Jon's S Club 7 bandmades and his family knew he was gay, the star never spoke about it publicly. "Throughout the band, I wasn't comfortable with my sexuality at all, so it would happen when I was drunk," he explained. "I didn't feel comfortable enough to be in a relationship until after the band and when I went back into musical theatre," he admitted. "It felt like I was out of the limelight then and no one cared about me anymore. That's when I started my dating life, so I was massively behind and very emotionally immature." Jon's time in the agency comes after a six year break from dating, as he told the cameras during the first episode that he had been celibate for six years. In a chat while filming, Dr Tara told the Mirror that Jon was the celebrity that surprised her most in the Agency, and he was set to make a "shocking revelation". "Jon has had a really interesting journey since S Club and I know a lot of it hasn't been shared anywhere else. It's a really interesting and insightful investigation into what really has been happening in his life since S Club and what he's been doing in the recent years," she told us. "One of his revelations I was shocked," Tara exclaimed, as she revealed Jon was the celebrity who surprised her the most in the agency. "I thought Jon would come in a lot more guarded but he's not," Tara said. "He's ready to bare it all emotionally and it's a beautiful thing. I've been learning a lot about him already, and I have to say it's a very touching story."
The Advertiser
01-08-2025
- General
- The Advertiser
'In good spirits': Grooms party rallies around each other through crash recovery
THE FAMILY of a groom who was hurt in a wedding van crash in the Hunter Valley has confirmed all passengers are okay, in good spirits and supporting each other through recovery. John Barrett was on his way to his wedding, with four of his groomsmen, on Wednesday when the taxi they were travelling in rolled down a 40-metre embankment on Mount View Road just after 10.30am. He lives with motor neurone disease and his family said anyone wishing to support him could make a donation to his fundraiser, Mind My Neurones, with all proceeds going to Professor Dominic Rowe and his team at Macquarie University. "He wouldn't want any money spent on himself - his wish is for contributions to go towards finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease," a statement on behalf of the Barrett family said. The five members of the grooms party, all aged in their 50s, were taken to John Hunter Hospital with various injuries. Two were flown via rescue helicopters. "While they have sustained various injuries, three have now been discharged and are recovering at home, and the remaining members of the party are now in a general ward together," the statement said. "They are in good spirits and supporting each other through recovery." The 73-year-old driver of the taxi van was taken to hospital for treatment and mandatory testing, but has since been released. "Regarding the driver, we kindly ask for the negative comments to stop. He is a father and a husband, who, like the rest of us, has been through a traumatic event," the family said. The statement said a lot of the information that had been circulated in the media and social platforms had been incorrect and had caused significant distress to the families involved, friends and loved ones during an already difficult time. "We kindly ask for privacy as we focus on supporting one another," the family said. They thanked the people who climbed down to the crash site to help the men before and during the major rescue operation. "You know who you are - and we are forever grateful for your courage, kindness, and support in such a critical moment," the statement said. The Herald spoke with groomsman Stephen Leathley, of Newcastle and Hunter Districts Veterans Cricket, on Thursday. "The first responders were amazing. We are so lucky to have people like that in our region," he said. He thanked the hospital staff for everything they did for the group. Specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit continue to investigate how the Toyota HiAce minibus, with six men on board, veered off the rural dirt roadway and rolled, landing on its wheels. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Multiple NSW Ambulance paramedic crews, two helicopters, police, firefighters and the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) worked together at the scene. First responders had to reach the patients at the bottom of the embankment, including the groom who is a wheelchair user, and then ferry them out via a stretcher with a wheel to waiting ambulances through "thick shrubbery". Donate to Mind My Neurones: THE FAMILY of a groom who was hurt in a wedding van crash in the Hunter Valley has confirmed all passengers are okay, in good spirits and supporting each other through recovery. John Barrett was on his way to his wedding, with four of his groomsmen, on Wednesday when the taxi they were travelling in rolled down a 40-metre embankment on Mount View Road just after 10.30am. He lives with motor neurone disease and his family said anyone wishing to support him could make a donation to his fundraiser, Mind My Neurones, with all proceeds going to Professor Dominic Rowe and his team at Macquarie University. "He wouldn't want any money spent on himself - his wish is for contributions to go towards finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease," a statement on behalf of the Barrett family said. The five members of the grooms party, all aged in their 50s, were taken to John Hunter Hospital with various injuries. Two were flown via rescue helicopters. "While they have sustained various injuries, three have now been discharged and are recovering at home, and the remaining members of the party are now in a general ward together," the statement said. "They are in good spirits and supporting each other through recovery." The 73-year-old driver of the taxi van was taken to hospital for treatment and mandatory testing, but has since been released. "Regarding the driver, we kindly ask for the negative comments to stop. He is a father and a husband, who, like the rest of us, has been through a traumatic event," the family said. The statement said a lot of the information that had been circulated in the media and social platforms had been incorrect and had caused significant distress to the families involved, friends and loved ones during an already difficult time. "We kindly ask for privacy as we focus on supporting one another," the family said. They thanked the people who climbed down to the crash site to help the men before and during the major rescue operation. "You know who you are - and we are forever grateful for your courage, kindness, and support in such a critical moment," the statement said. The Herald spoke with groomsman Stephen Leathley, of Newcastle and Hunter Districts Veterans Cricket, on Thursday. "The first responders were amazing. We are so lucky to have people like that in our region," he said. He thanked the hospital staff for everything they did for the group. Specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit continue to investigate how the Toyota HiAce minibus, with six men on board, veered off the rural dirt roadway and rolled, landing on its wheels. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Multiple NSW Ambulance paramedic crews, two helicopters, police, firefighters and the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) worked together at the scene. First responders had to reach the patients at the bottom of the embankment, including the groom who is a wheelchair user, and then ferry them out via a stretcher with a wheel to waiting ambulances through "thick shrubbery". Donate to Mind My Neurones: THE FAMILY of a groom who was hurt in a wedding van crash in the Hunter Valley has confirmed all passengers are okay, in good spirits and supporting each other through recovery. John Barrett was on his way to his wedding, with four of his groomsmen, on Wednesday when the taxi they were travelling in rolled down a 40-metre embankment on Mount View Road just after 10.30am. He lives with motor neurone disease and his family said anyone wishing to support him could make a donation to his fundraiser, Mind My Neurones, with all proceeds going to Professor Dominic Rowe and his team at Macquarie University. "He wouldn't want any money spent on himself - his wish is for contributions to go towards finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease," a statement on behalf of the Barrett family said. The five members of the grooms party, all aged in their 50s, were taken to John Hunter Hospital with various injuries. Two were flown via rescue helicopters. "While they have sustained various injuries, three have now been discharged and are recovering at home, and the remaining members of the party are now in a general ward together," the statement said. "They are in good spirits and supporting each other through recovery." The 73-year-old driver of the taxi van was taken to hospital for treatment and mandatory testing, but has since been released. "Regarding the driver, we kindly ask for the negative comments to stop. He is a father and a husband, who, like the rest of us, has been through a traumatic event," the family said. The statement said a lot of the information that had been circulated in the media and social platforms had been incorrect and had caused significant distress to the families involved, friends and loved ones during an already difficult time. "We kindly ask for privacy as we focus on supporting one another," the family said. They thanked the people who climbed down to the crash site to help the men before and during the major rescue operation. "You know who you are - and we are forever grateful for your courage, kindness, and support in such a critical moment," the statement said. The Herald spoke with groomsman Stephen Leathley, of Newcastle and Hunter Districts Veterans Cricket, on Thursday. "The first responders were amazing. We are so lucky to have people like that in our region," he said. He thanked the hospital staff for everything they did for the group. Specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit continue to investigate how the Toyota HiAce minibus, with six men on board, veered off the rural dirt roadway and rolled, landing on its wheels. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Multiple NSW Ambulance paramedic crews, two helicopters, police, firefighters and the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) worked together at the scene. First responders had to reach the patients at the bottom of the embankment, including the groom who is a wheelchair user, and then ferry them out via a stretcher with a wheel to waiting ambulances through "thick shrubbery". Donate to Mind My Neurones: THE FAMILY of a groom who was hurt in a wedding van crash in the Hunter Valley has confirmed all passengers are okay, in good spirits and supporting each other through recovery. John Barrett was on his way to his wedding, with four of his groomsmen, on Wednesday when the taxi they were travelling in rolled down a 40-metre embankment on Mount View Road just after 10.30am. He lives with motor neurone disease and his family said anyone wishing to support him could make a donation to his fundraiser, Mind My Neurones, with all proceeds going to Professor Dominic Rowe and his team at Macquarie University. "He wouldn't want any money spent on himself - his wish is for contributions to go towards finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease," a statement on behalf of the Barrett family said. The five members of the grooms party, all aged in their 50s, were taken to John Hunter Hospital with various injuries. Two were flown via rescue helicopters. "While they have sustained various injuries, three have now been discharged and are recovering at home, and the remaining members of the party are now in a general ward together," the statement said. "They are in good spirits and supporting each other through recovery." The 73-year-old driver of the taxi van was taken to hospital for treatment and mandatory testing, but has since been released. "Regarding the driver, we kindly ask for the negative comments to stop. He is a father and a husband, who, like the rest of us, has been through a traumatic event," the family said. The statement said a lot of the information that had been circulated in the media and social platforms had been incorrect and had caused significant distress to the families involved, friends and loved ones during an already difficult time. "We kindly ask for privacy as we focus on supporting one another," the family said. They thanked the people who climbed down to the crash site to help the men before and during the major rescue operation. "You know who you are - and we are forever grateful for your courage, kindness, and support in such a critical moment," the statement said. The Herald spoke with groomsman Stephen Leathley, of Newcastle and Hunter Districts Veterans Cricket, on Thursday. "The first responders were amazing. We are so lucky to have people like that in our region," he said. He thanked the hospital staff for everything they did for the group. Specialist police from the Crash Investigation Unit continue to investigate how the Toyota HiAce minibus, with six men on board, veered off the rural dirt roadway and rolled, landing on its wheels. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Multiple NSW Ambulance paramedic crews, two helicopters, police, firefighters and the Volunteer Rescue Association (VRA) worked together at the scene. First responders had to reach the patients at the bottom of the embankment, including the groom who is a wheelchair user, and then ferry them out via a stretcher with a wheel to waiting ambulances through "thick shrubbery". Donate to Mind My Neurones:
Otago Daily Times
28-06-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Fire brigades brave cold at MND fundraiser
Firefighters (from left) Angelus Parker, of Kakanui brigade, Aydan Erickson of Weston brigade, Jase Dodds, of Waitaki brigade, Luke Skivington, of Kakanui brigade, Gemma Ludemann, of Waitaki brigade, and Richard Cranston, of Weston brigade, battle the cold during Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade's motor neurone disease fundraiser last week. PHOTO: NIC DUFF As if winter was not cold enough, Waitaki fire brigades decided to up the ante. Weston Volunteer Fire Brigade held an ice-bath challenge to raise money for Motor Neurone Disease New Zealand last week. They filled up their portable dam with ice-water and challenged neighbouring brigades to see how long they could last. Event organiser Alice Perry said it was a great success. "It was just the right cause, the right challenge and something we could all get behind and get the brigades working together." A total of $268 was raised on the night, firefighters from Weston, Oamaru, Waitaki and Kakanui brigades all taking part. The event also attracted two members of the community who had a direct or indirect knowledge of the disease come along and watch. "To have two families there that are directly suffering from the disease made it even more worth it to have a direct connection to it right there and then to make it all real." Jase Dodds, of Waitaki Volunteer Fire Brigade, was the overall winner, lasting more than an hour in the ice bath. Ms Perry said the charity was well worth supporting because of "just how quickly this disease can rob someone of their quality of life and their life". "It's a horribly cruel disease that has a really short life span. "You typically only have two to three years, that's the prognosis." "It's not uncommon to know someone with it or who has lost their life to it. "One of my old friends through sled dog racing, unfortunately, has been recently diagnosed with motor neurone disease and it's hit him pretty rapidly in terms of deterioration." She hoped the event would be back bigger and better in 2026.
Hans India
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
1st Test: India, England players wear black armbands to pay respect to David Lawrence
India and England players wore black armbands during the third day of the first Test at Headingley to pay their respect to former English pacer David Lawrence who passed away on Saturday. There was a round of applause from both teams and crowd before start of play on Day 3. "Both teams are wearing black armbands to pay their respects to former England Cricketer, David 'Syd' Lawrence, who has sadly passed away. There was a moment's applause before start of play on Day 3," BCCI posted on X. Lawrence died at the age of 61 after battling Motor Neurone Disease (MND). 'It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE following his brave battle with Motor Neurone Disease. 'Syd' was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family who were with him when he passed," a statement from Lawrence family shared by Gloucestershire read. After making his international debut in 1988, Lawrence played five Tests between 1988 and 1992, taking 18 wickets, including a famous five-wicket-haul against the West Indies at The Oval in 1991 - in the same innings he dismissed the great Viv Richards. His international career was tragically cut short in 1992 by a horrific knee injury sustained during a Test match in Wellington, New Zealand. In 2023, He was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, a life-shortening neurological disorder which causes muscle weakness that gets worse over a few months or years. Born on January 28, 1964, Lawrence made his first-class debut in 1981 for Gloucestershire at just 17. He played 170 first-class matches for Gloucestershire, taking 477 wickets at 31.27, including a best of 7 for 47 against Warwickshire. Over a 16-year career, he became a club icon for his fearless fast bowling. In one-day cricket, he claimed 148 wickets in 110 appearances, with a standout 6 for 20 against a Combined Universities XI in 1991 - the third best return in Gloucestershire's 50-over history. Coming back to the match, England lost overnight batter Ollie Pope early in the session as pacer Prasidh Krishna bagged his first wicket of the match. Pope departed after playing a knock of 106. Harry Brook continued his hard hitting before he fell to Mohammed Siraj.
