Local support group brings comfort and connection to families facing MND

Local families affected by Motor Neurone Disease (MND) are finding vital support, connection and comfort at Mollies – a dedicated group based at Treetops Hospice in Risley.  

The group welcomes anyone affected by MND, including patients, families and carers, and offers a blend of peer support, professional guidance and a safe space to chat. It is led by specialists, including a local MND Nurse, an Occupational Therapist and a Community Support Coordinator from the MND Association.

Rachel Pitzettu, the Coordinator who runs the group, said: “With MND being such a rare condition, affecting around 2 in every 100,000 people each year, many people might never meet someone else living with it.

“That’s why Mollies is so special. It brings people together who truly understand each other. There’s advice, support, validation, and just as importantly, there’s often laughter. Whatever someone needs that day, they can bring it to the group without fear or judgement.”

Over time, the group has become a place where strong friendships have been formed that continue well beyond the monthly sessions.

A consistent and dedicated team of volunteers also attend each month, offering continuity and helping build genuine, trusting relationships with the people they support.

One of the group’s regular attendees is Nigel, whose wife Sally was diagnosed with MND in 2020. The couple attended Mollies together and quickly found comfort in meeting others with similar experiences.

“Sally loved the group, the people, the staff, the volunteers,” Nigel said.

“After she died, I wanted to give something back. If I can help even one person going through what we went through, that’s all that matters.”

Nigel now continues to attend Mollies, drawing on his experience to support other patients, carers and families.

“MND isn’t fully understood unless you or someone close to you goes through it,” he said.

“People in the group appreciate honesty and sometimes hearing things from someone who’s lived it makes all the difference.”

Nigel and Sally shared a remarkable life together – living in eight different countries during Nigel’s RAF career, travelling around the world, and first meeting at college while studying Latin American Studies. They were together for 50 years.

Their story, and Nigel’s continued involvement, have become a source of support and guidance for many who attend Mollies.

Another attendee, Kay, who is a mum of two from Long Eaton has been part of the group since she was diagnosed with MND in 2025. She said the sessions have been “welcoming and friendly.”

She explained: “Attending these groups is definitely something that was way out of my comfort zone, but after the first time of going, I felt really at ease and I’m comfortable now.”

Kay joined the group to connect with others affected by MND, including those living with the condition and the carers and family members who support them, while navigating it in her own family.

“It has helped me understand that everybody’s disease progresses differently and has given me a more positive outlook on my own life.

“I’ve also been given loads of advice on equipment and travelling abroad that has been really useful. Treetops is a calming and cheerful place and I would urge anybody to give the support group a go.

“We don’t just sit around and talk about our illness, we’re just regular people who have a chat over cake, and feeling normal like that is great.”

Alongside the MND group, Treetops Hospice provides a variety of monthly and weekly cafés, sessions and groups, supporting people affected by life‑limiting illnesses, bereavement and other wellbeing needs.

To find out more about the MND support group at Treetops, visit: https://www.treetopshospice.org.uk/our-services/wellbeing-space/mnda-support-group/

Nigel and his wife, Sally.

Kay and her family.