Welcome to the Manchester & District Branch

The branch is completely run by friendly volunteers all willing to help in any way we can. Our volunteers have a lot of experience of MND and want to provide support in a number of ways, but would like to hear about what you would find helpful. Our general branch contact details are in the Local Teams Section.

The Manchester and District Branch covers Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Trafford, Tameside, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Glossop, although there is occasionally an overlap with other Branches at our boundaries. To view details of other MND Association Branches in other areas, please see the MND Association’s website, or email them at enquiries@mndassociation.org.

What is Motor Neurone Disease?

Motor neurone disease (MND) describes a group of diseases that affect the nerves (motor neurones) in the brain and spinal cord that tell your muscles what to do. With MND, messages from these nerves gradually stop reaching the muscles, leading them to weaken, stiffen and waste.

MND can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe. Some people also experience changes to their thinking and behaviour. However, MND affects everyone differently. Not all symptoms will affect everyone, or in the same order. Symptoms also progress at varying speeds, which makes the course of the disease difficult to predict.

Please watch this short video from the MND Association which outlines, in simple terms, what Motor Neurone Disease is.

There are different types of MND; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of MND, Bulbar onset MND or Progressive bulbar palsy (PBP), Progressive muscular atrophy (PMA) and Primary lateral sclerosis (PLS). The MND Association also support people living with Kennedys Disease.

For more information, please visit the What is MND? section of the MND Association’s website.