“Sometimes the companionship of a dog is better than human company. They don't judge you. You don't have to sort of speak. They're just there. And sometimes that's all you want, because it's hard.” 

Through every chapter of our lives, our pets are right there beside us. We look after them, and they look after us. They’re not just animals we live with - they’re family.  

In this episode of MND Matters, Domonique sits down with Lizzie from Woodgreen Pets Charity and Channel 4’s The Dog House. Lizzie’s husband Chris was diagnosed with MND at just 34. In this episode she discusses the challenges of being a carer while raising young children, but how bringing puppy Betty into the home gave the family comfort, routine and companionship.  

Drawing on her personal and professional experience, Lizzie also shares practical advice for caring for pets while managing the changes MND might bring. 

You may hear the very occasional bark during the episode – Lizzie’s dog Bumblebee couldn’t resist getting involved in the episode too.  

Meet Rick and Ali – our hosts for this special episode of MND Matters. 

Rick is a biologist, educator, advocate and artist living with PLS - a slow progressing form of MND. 

Ali is a licensing officer for local government. Her mum, Sheila, died in March 2025 soon after being diagnosed with MND.  

Together, Rick and Ali put MND research under the microscope with Mike Rogers, the Association’s Director of Research and Innovation. The trio discuss the development of the Association’s new five-year research strategy, how it resulted in four key aims: understand, detect, discover and innovate, and how the MND community shaped the strategy from the very beginning.  

In this powerful episode, host Domonique is joined by Lorraine Redmond, who lives with MND, Emma Wood, a clinical lead dietitian, and Jonathan Phang, a cook and MND Association ambassador. Together, they explore the emotional and practical challenges of eating and drinking with motor neurone disease. 

The conversation is rich with practical tips - from modifying food textures and using feeding tubes flexibly, to managing social anxiety around eating in public. It’s also a reminder that food is more than fuel - it’s love, culture and togetherness. 

For more information about eating, drinking and swallowing with MND, see our guide, Eating and drinking with motor neurone disease (MND). You can request a free printed copy from our helpline MND Connect. 

In this episode of MND Matters, Chief Executive Tanya Curry and Director of Engagement Richard Evans reflect on a transformative year for the MND Association. From record-breaking fundraising and expanded grants to bold advocacy and the launch of a research nurse network, Tanya and Richard share how the Association is stepping up with urgency and ambition to focus on delivering more impact, including faster access to emerging treatments, targeted support, and a louder voice for the MND community. 

In this episode of MND Matters, Helen is joined by Tris Dyson from Challenge Works, and the MND Association’s Dr Mike Rogers and Dr Brian Dickie, to explore the groundbreaking £7.5 million Longitude Prize on ALS. This global challenge aims to revolutionise drug discovery for ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease, by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. Tris, Mike and Brian discuss how AI-based approaches can transform drug discovery for the treatment of ALS, and accelerate progress towards effective therapies.  

Find out more about the prize, or how to enter, by visiting https://als.longitudeprize.org/. 

"One of the things we’ve said is - as long as we laugh more times than we cry, we're winning.”

Carers of people with motor neurone disease (MND) often face significant emotional and financial challenges.

In this episode, released during Carers Week 2024, Martyn shares his personal experience as an unpaid carer for his wife Anna, who was diagnosed with MND in May 2023.

As part of our MND Guarantee campaign, we are calling on the next government to do a full review of the support currently available to unpaid carers. Unpaid carers are the backbone of support for people with MND, and the financial support they receive does not reflect the contribution they make. We want this to change.

You can urge your MP candidates to sign the MND Guarantee by taking part in our e-action – it will only take a few minutes.

Sports journalist and West Yorkshire branch patron Tanya Arnold sits down with Chief Executive Tanya Curry, who recently marked one year in post at the MND Association. I In this episode, Tanya discusses her tenure so far, her passion for supporting people affected by MND and her ambitions for the Association in 2024 and beyond.  

Have you seen our new awareness campaign, The Love Inside? In this episode, host Helen chats to the MND Association’s Director of External Affairs Chris James to find out more about the awareness campaign, the reasons behind exploring TV advertising for the first time in years and what the Association hopes to achieve from The Love Inside.  

Also on the podcast is Mike and Zoe Sumner, who many of you might remember from Episode 9 of MND Matters: Dating after diagnosis. Mike and his wife Zoe star in some of The Love Inside adverts and they tell us what it was like to be involved and their hopes for the campaign.  

You can watch our TV ad here.