Latest news with #MotorNeuroneDisease
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Devastated Big Brother star Imogen Thomas admits she's ‘traumatised' after ‘last' holiday with seriously ill mum
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IMOGEN Thomas has called out easyJet for breaking her seriously ill mother's wheelchair on a flight. The 42-year-old star has flown to Italy with her mother Janet, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2023. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 5 Imogen Thomas has been left 'traumatised' after a troubled flight with her mum Janet Credit: imogenthomas/Instagram 5 Imogen pleaded with Easyjet on social media for help after getting nowhere with their service helpline However, after suffering trouble on the flight, her mother's wheelchair is now broken, and the Big Brother star has blamed the airline for their lack of communication and called on them to help her. Sharing a photo of the broken chair, Imogen wrote on Instagram: "We've arrived in Italy but are traumatised. Easyjet have broke my mums electric wheelchair. "It will not fold and is unstable. We are beyond upset and I'm here trying to console my mum as much as possible." Explaining she went on social media as a last resort, Imogen shared her frustration with the airline's customer service system. READ MORE IMOGEN THOMAS WHO IS SHE? Big Brother's Imogen Thomas strips completely naked for bath in sizzling snaps "I've been on the chat to make a claim now it's disappeared," she said. "Called Easyjet and they told me nothing can be done on the phone only on the live chat. "Now I can't start a new chat as my old one is already open and it doesn't allow me although it's disappeared from my phone." "Please help me Easyjet this is our last holiday abroad as my mum's MSD is progressing," she added. "We are only here for a couple of days and it's ruined. "How on earth can this wheelchair break during transit in the hold? Beyond devastated. We had every reason to be nervous about this flight." When approached for comment, an easyJet representative told The Sun Online: "We are very sorry for the damage caused to Ms. Thomas' mother's wheelchair during transit and for the difficulty she experienced trying to get in touch with us. Big Brother star Imogen Thomas looks incredible as she strips off to black bikini on holiday "We have been in contact with the family to apologise and offer any assistance we can. "We understand how important it is for our customers to feel confident that essential items like this will be well cared for when travelling with us. "We are urgently looking into this with our ground handling partners." Imogen revealed her mother's motor neurone disease in January last year, six months after the initial diagnosis. Imogen went on to explain that she and Janet have decided to speak out publicly for several reasons. The star, who has two daughters of her own, said they are keen to raise awareness of MND and also hope Janet will be able to connect with others "who understand what she is going through". They added they were inspired to go public with the diagnosis after Coronation Street aired a storyline where character Paul Foreman had the disease. Motor Neurone Disease, which currently has no cure, is a rare disease that affects the brain and nerves, and causes weakness that gets worse over time. It slowly robs patients of the ability to walk, talk and eat, although every sufferer is different. 5 Janet and Imogen spoke out about the diagnosis last year Credit: imogenthomas/Instagram 5 Janet has been living with motor neurone disease since 2023 Credit: imogenthomas/Instagram
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Coronation Street's Peter Ash breaks his silence on co-star's controversial exit as he reunites with the cast after his heartbreaking death
Coronation Street star Peter Ash has paid tribute to his co-star Daniel Brocklebank after it was revealed he will be leaving the soap. The pair worked closely on the ITV soap as part of Peter's emotional exit last year, when his character Paul Foreman, lost his battle with motor neurone disease. Last month, it was then revealed that Daniel, who plays Billy Mayhew will be leaving Corrie after 11 years, with his partner quick to launch a stinging attack on the soap. Speaking to MailOnline on the red carpet at Saturday's Soap Awards, Peter spoke about his close bond with Daniel. He said: 'Dan's great we are such good mates, and we really bonded in our time together on the show, and it was sad to film the last bits, and then obviously Dan is leaving now himself, it's part of the job when you're on the soap.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Viewers were left in tears when Paul lost his battle with motor neurone disease in November, after a long-running storyline that was praised by fans. Peter himself also earned praise, and alongside Soap Award nominations for Best Dramatic Performance and Best Storyline, he also won a National Television Award for Serial Drama Performance in September. Reflecting on viewers' reaction to the storyline, he added: 'It was incredible, I think it was beyond anything we could have hoped or wished for, the whole repsionse to that storyline was amazing. 'I really thank the fans and everyone for taking it to heart.' The best and brightest in serial drama were in attendance for the ceremony, which will be broadcast on ITV on June 5. It was the BBC 's EastEnders that cleaned up on the night with eight awards while Hollyoaks received three, Emmerdale two and Coronation Street only one. They kicked off their wins with Best Episode which went to Phil's Psychosis: The Mitchells In 1985. EastEnders also won Scene of the Year for Angie Watts' Shock Return while Navin Chowdhry won Best Villain for his role of Nish Panesar. Steve McFadden, who plays fan favourite Phil Mitchell, won the Best Dramatic Performance award while Patsy Palmer won Best Comedic Performance for her role as Bianca Jackson. Rudolph Walker & Angela Wynter (Patrick & Yolande Trueman) delivered another win for EastEnders as they won Best On-Screen Partnership. Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, won the Best Leading Performer Award and EastEnders also won the most coveted award of all: Best British Soap. Hollyoaks' three awards started with Isabelle Smith who won Best Newcomer for her role as Frankie Osborne. The Osbornes then won the Best Family award while Hollyoaks' sibling sexual abuse storyline received the Best Storyline award. Emmerdale's Amelia Flanagan won Best Young Performer for playing April Windsor while camera operator Mike Plant took home the Tony Warren Award which is given to employees working behind the scenes. Coronation Street's sole gong of the night was the Outstanding Achievement Award which went to David Neilson who has played Roy Cropper for 30 years. The British Soap Awards will air on Thursday, June 5 at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. British Soap Awards 2025: Full List of Winners Viewer Voted Categories: Best British Soap: Coronation Street EastEnders - WINNER Emmerdale Hollyoaks Best Leading Performer: Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater, EastEnders) - WINNER Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders) Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale) Villain of the Year: Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street) Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders) - WINNER Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale) Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks) Best Comedy Performance: Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street) Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders) - WINNER Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale) Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks) Panel Voted Categories: Best Family: The Platts (Coronation Street) The Slaters (EastEnders) The Dingles (Emmerdale) The Osbornes (Hollyoaks) - WINNER Best Dramatic Performance: Peter Ash (Paul Foreman, Coronation Street) Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell, EastEnders) - WINNER Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale) Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) Best Single Episode: Mason's death (Coronation Street) Phil's psychosis: the Mitchells in 1985 (EastEnders) - WINNER April's life on the streets (Emmerdale) Hollyoaks time jump (Hollyoaks) Best On-Screen Partnership: Alison King and Vicky Myers (Carla Connor and Lisa Swain, Coronation Street) Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter (Patrick and Yolande Trueman, EastEnders) - WINNER William Ash and Beth Cordingly (Caleb and Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale) Nathaniel Dass and Oscar Curtis (Dillon Ray and Lucas Hay, Hollyoaks) Best Newcomer: Jacob Roberts (Kit Green, Coronation Street) Laura Doddington (Nicola Mitchell, EastEnders) Shebz Miah (Kammy Hadiq, Emmerdale) Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) - WINNER Best Storyline: Paul's battle with MND (Coronation Street) Phil Mitchell: Hypermasculinity in crisis (EastEnders) Belle and Tom - Domestic Abuse (Emmerdale) Sibling sexual abuse (Hollyoaks) - WINNER Best Young Performer: Will Flanagan (Joseph Winter-Brown, Coronation Street) Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon, EastEnders) Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale) - WINNER Noah Holdsworth (Oscar Osborne, Hollyoaks) Scene of the Year: Mason's death (Coronation Street) Angie Watts' shock return (EastEnders) - WINNER Amy's deathly plunge reveals a grisly secret (Emmerdale) Mercedes confronts her mortality (Hollyoaks)
Herald Sun
a day ago
- Health
- Herald Sun
Greg Blewett's motor neurone disease heartbreak for mum
Greg Blewett was in a hotel room in country Victoria when he took the call. It was the summer of 2014, and the respected former Australian Test cricketer was on a Cricketers Association Masters tour. 'I got the phone call from Mum, and I could tell something was wrong straight away,' he says. 'She said, 'Honey, I've got MND,' and she just broke down. 'I'll never forget that phone call. I obviously came home straight away.' Shirley Blewett, a 'tough country girl' who grew up on a property in the Adelaide Hills had noticed the symptoms of Motor Neurone Disease several months before. 'In the lead up, we knew something was wrong with Mum, the diagnosis just took a long time,' Greg says. 'We noticed it in her speech first; she just started to slur her words a bit. 'Mum wasn't a big drinker, but we thought, 'is she having a couple of nips of brandy without us knowing?''' She wasn't and worryingly, the symptoms weren't going away. 'It progressively got worse and at one point we thought she might have had a mini stroke,' Greg says. 'As it happens with MND, it just gets worse and worse, but it probably took 6 months to diagnose.' Within 12 months of that devastating diagnosis, Shirley Blewett was dead. She was just 69. Eleven years on and in the lead up to this weekend's 11 th FightMND Big Freeze, Greg, a Seven Network commentator, Triple M identity and popular podcaster, is speaking publicly about losing her, for the first time. Recalling the morning she passed away is still raw, difficult and emotional. 'I had just come back from overseas, I'd been away for 3 weeks, I'd just got engaged to Katheryn,' Greg says. 'For a long time there it wasn't great, she was battling so hard, but you never really know how long they have. 'I asked Mum 'are you sure it's ok if I go?', she was like, 'go, go, go'.' The pair spoke several times while Greg was away and were looking forward to seeing each other at the end of the trip. But it never happened. 'The morning we got back from overseas Dad rang and said 'Listen, mum's really not well, you'd better come up quickly',' Greg says. 'We didn't quite make it, in between that phone call and me getting there, we lost her. 'I just missed her literally by minutes, it was heartbreaking.' For Greg, his father Bob and older sister Kerry, it was impossible to believe someone who'd lived such a full life, could go so quickly. 'Mum was very sporty, she played a few games of basketball for Australia, loved playing tennis and netball and in later years she loved her golf,' Greg says. 'She was a workhorse who did everything for us. She loved her family, her Mum and Dad, her two sisters and her brother. 'All of my mates, they all loved Mum, she was just one of those very infectious loving people to be around.' Motor Neurone Disease is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that strips its victims of their independence, dignity and in a final cruel blow, their voice. With Voluntary Assisted Dying not an option for Shirley back then, her close-knit family had no choice but to watch her deteriorate, day by day. 'We, like any family living with MND, we really struggled with it,' Greg says. 'Seeing what Mum went through was brutal and absolutely heartbreaking. 'It's just hopeless, the slow deterioration and at times fast deterioration, it's just horrible.' Shirley fought so hard to stay, but in every case, MND wins. It's a death sentence for its unwilling prisoners, with no exceptions. 'She had no control over it, she couldn't beat it,' Greg says. tough as nails, she dealt with it as well as she could, but she hated the fact she was going through it. 'She obviously loved her kids, loved the grandkids, letting go of all of that would have been so hard for her.' 2752 Australians are currently living with Motor Neurone Disease and that number is expected to rise to 4304 by 2050. There's no known cause, no effective treatment and no cure. It's claimed the lives of some great South Australians including dancer and director Roz Hervey, former State Liberal Party leader Dale Baker and mother of 3, Anna Penhall. Fight MND, a movement sparked by Australian of the Year Neale Daniher and two others, is working feverishly to find a cure. Despite his own prognosis, Daniher has inspired and united a nation, raising more than $115 million for drug and clinical trials. But the Beast is not backing down and there's no cure on the horizon. Last year, a conference of world leading MND researchers heard it could take up to 30 years. In the meantime, MND South Australia is doing what it can to provide care and guidance for local patients and their families. From a warehouse at Mile End they provide all of the equipment a family might need, wheelchairs, mobility aids, bed raisers, ventilators and communication devices. MND SA Chairman Andrew Danson says with medical advances, people are being diagnosed with the disease sooner. 'That means they need the support earlier and typically, they're just asking us what's next, what do we do?'' Andrew says. 'If we can help them maintain some level of independence and dignity, I think that's a really important thing.' Andrew knows first-hand how insidious this disease is. On his birthday, January 13, 2020, he lost his father Peter Danson to MND at the age of 64. 'It just took away everything,' Andrew says. 'He was a very proud man, independent and larger than life. It took all that away from him.' MND costs the Australian health system $27 million a year but there's an enormous discrepancy between funding for patients, depending on their age. Anyone diagnosed before the age of 65, receives $240,000 more in care annually than someone diagnosed at 66 or older, because they qualify for the NDIS. Three years ago, MND SA was granted $600,000 a year to help close that senseless gap by the Malinauskas government. They're hoping this week's State Budget will not only maintain that funding but increase it. 'We couldn't provide the aged care service if we didn't have the support of the government, not to the level we do,' Andrew says. 'It's very important and crucial funding for us.' Greg Blewett is an ambassador for MND SA and says he draws inspiration from seeing improved care for patients and their families. 'We're all praying and hoping that there is a cure because the people that have been around MND know how horrible it is,' he says. 'In the meantime, it's really important to support the person suffering and everyone around them to make it as good as it possibly can be.' In March this year, my husband Dave lost his Dad to Motor Neurone Disease, just 12 weeks after a doctor delivered those 3 dreaded words. He was the happiest person I've ever known with the most brilliant and infectious smile. The deep creases on his handsome face came not from worry or stress, but from a life of love and laughter. Walking, reading and talking were his favourite things and the Beast took them all, picking them off, one by one. On the morning he was diagnosed, amid the shock, the disbelief and the tears, he sent a selfie to his 3 children. He'd put on a Fight MND beanie, and that radiant smile was still there. Please buy one if you can this weekend, or donate to the MND SA team, caring for South Australians, until we find the answers. Originally published as Australian cricket star Greg Blewett tells of mother Shirley's heartbreaking MND struggle
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Homecare provider to create 60 new jobs in Louth
Drogheda Independent Home care provider, Dovida, has today announced plans to create up to 60 new caregiver jobs in Louth. The positions, which will be a mix of full-time and part-time roles, are part of the company's broader effort to expand services and meet increasing demand for home care in the region. Formerly known as Home Instead, Dovida has been operating in Ireland since 2005 and recently rebranded as it broadened its range of services and intends to increase capacity across the region. The company currently provides home care to over 8,000 people across the country. The organisation's client base began with people in the over-65 age group but there is a growing portion of their clients (10pc) who are under the age of 65, with children under 18 making up 1pc of their clients. Dovida's services have adapted to the varied needs of its clients, and the company now provides services to support people living with an acquired brain injury, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Motor Neurone Disease, as well as helping children and young adults with additional needs. The new roles will be a combination of full and part-time positions, offering competitive rates of pay, flexible schedules, and comprehensive, sector-leading training through the Home Care Professionals Academy. Speaking at the launch of Dovida's Louth office, Allison Doggett, General Manager of Dovida Louth, said, 'We are excited about welcoming more caregivers to our team. They will help us meet the growing need for home care services in Louth and make it possible for more people to receive the support they need to live comfortably and independently at home. 'Caregivers joining our team can expect comprehensive training, a dedicated local team and supportive environment as well as opportunities to grow professionally and develop a rewarding career in home care. We believe in quality home care that empowers people to live with dignity, independence, and comfort in familiar surroundings,' Doggett continued. 'That means keeping them in their own home, connected to their family, friends and communities for as long as possible. Social interaction and companionship are crucial for maintaining good mental health and supporting those experiencing cognitive decline, particularly older people. As an organisation with deep roots in the community, we understand the value of connection and it's fantastic to be in a position to grow our team so we can support more and more people throughout the county,' Allison concluded. Dovida caregivers provide essential support to ageing adults and people living with disabilities in their own homes. The organisation's person-centred approach means that its caregivers build meaningful connections with their clients and empower them to live fuller, more independent lives. Dovida welcomes applications from people from all walks of life and is committed to supporting them every step of the way. People interested in pursuing a rewarding career in caregiving are encouraged to visit
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Heartless criminals twice break into construction site of the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease
Brazen criminals have broken into the construction site of a Motor Neurone Disease centre being built in honour of inspirational rugby league star Rob Burrow. The father-of-three passed away at Pinderfield's Hospital surrounded by family following a six-year battle with the cruel disease in June of last year. The 41-year-old rugby player was first diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, only two years after retiring from a 17-season league career, where he won eight Super League titles for Leeds. Burrow, a fan favourite, alongside his former teammate Kevin Sinfield, dedicated himself to raising awareness and funds for the MND community. To honour the late rugby player, The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust began building a new £6.8million centre at Seacroft Hospital, with specialised facilities for MND patients and their families. But now its construction site has been hit by burglaries carried out by heartless criminals in two separate incidents, police have said. West Yorkshire Police first received reports of an ongoing burglary at the site at around 11.37pm, last Friday. Upon attending the scene, the force searched the scene and seized a number of items which included tools and a rucksack. Further investigations have discovered a burglary also happened at the construction site in the early hours of Wednesday morning on May 10, where a quantity of copper was stolen. Rob Burrow's father Geoff spoke out following reports of the Friday burglary, saying it was 'beggars belief' that criminals would steal from an MND treatment centre, adding his son 'would be looking down cursing', as he 'just wanted to help people. The family, who have been backing the facility backed by the donations and fundraising of 17,000 people within the communtiy, believed it was a 'prank' when they were told after a site visit last Friday. 'It shows how low and desperate people are to make money,' Geoff told the BBC: 'Rob wanted to help people, he was such a lovely person. 'He'd be looking down cursing them. For someone to do that beggars belief.' Leeds Hospital Charity's CEO Esther Wakeman described the incidents as 'disheartening', adding supporters would be 'unbelievably devastated' that somebody would steal from the centre. She added the centre was a 'real community effort', and would make 'such a difference' to those with MND and their families. Craige Richardson, director of estates and facilities at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, confirmed last Sunday staff were working alongside police and security for the site had been increased. Mr Richardson told the BBC: 'We are really disappointed that there have been two incidents involving theft and damage at the construction site of the new Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital. 'We will always take positive action against criminal activity at our hospitals, including prosecution.' Inspector Carl Robinson said: 'We are actively pursuing lines of inquiry in relation to these burglaries, which have quite understandably struck a chord with people in the community. 'I would urge anyone with information about either incident to contact us.' The Leeds East Neighbourhood Policing Team is now appealing for anyone with information, or any witnesses of the incidents to report it to West Yorkshire Police by calling 101 or online by quoting reference 13250276040.
