For the last five years, Maureen Smith, 86, from Nottingham has organised biannual charity lunches in her local community to raise money for us. Inspired by her granddaughter Jade, who lives with FSHD, Maureen has hosted ten lunches and raised £3,200. We spoke to her granddaughter Jade to find out more about her Nanna’s fundraising.
Super Nanna raises over £3k in support of granddaughter living with FSHD
My dad had muscular dystrophy and died when I was five. As a family, we’ve done quite a lot of different fundraising activities for Muscular Dystrophy UK in his memory, from raffles to a charity football day, and my mum has also done the London Marathon. But these charity lunches are all down to Nanna.
She wanted to get involved and do something to help so spoke to people in her local community about organising some lunches to raise money. She served jacket potatoes with salad and organised raffles – it’s incredible that she’s been doing all of this at such an age. Over the last five years, she’s hosted ten lunches, each for between 14 and 24 people, raising £3,200.
I was diagnosed with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) nine years ago when I was 22, but had been displaying symptoms for a long time before that. My condition causes foot drop, so I wear splints, and I also struggle to lift my arms. I don’t talk to Nanna much about my condition, but I think organising the lunches was her way of making a difference.
“She’s such an incredible person – humble and very funny.”
She knows that we all fundraise for Muscular Dystrophy UK, and she really wanted to get involved in some way.
She also started saving all her 5p coins and getting her friends to do the same, so that she can add it to her fundraising total. Everyone has been so supportive.
“The fact that Nanna has been doing all of this for me is just amazing.”
I feel very proud. But now the pressure is on as I’ve decided to organise my own fundraising event next year! I haven’t finalised details yet, but I think it will be a family fun day, and I’d love to raise £2,026 in 2026.
