Employees at regional accountancy firm, Larking Gowen LLP have smashed through their own target, and raised £7,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).
Larking Gowen, which has six offices across East Anglia, and employs approximately 400 people, holds an annual fundraising and celebration event, nominating a different charity each time. In 2024, the firm chose MNDA, to support a long-serving Manager, in the firm’s Fakenham office, who has been diagnosed with the condition. Previous chosen charities have been East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), raising £6,000 in 2023, Mind and East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Each year, Larking Gowen sets a target of ‘raising more than last year’, and arranges activities including a raffle, a ‘golden ticket’ lucky dip, as well as fun and games during their annual party. Other contributions came from people within the firm who chose to donate money to MNDA in-lieu of receiving a recognition award or instead of taking their end-of-year gift.
On January 16, 2025, Julie Grimmer, Managing Partner of Larking Gowen, presented a giant cheque to Malcolm Chubbock, Chair of the Norfolk, Norwich & Waveney branch of MNDA.
Julie said, “We’re so very proud of everyone’s contributions to this year’s total for Motor Neurone Disease Association, which reached £7,000. The charity is one that is close to our hearts because one of our own is affected by the condition, and this helped us raise more than we expected. We know that the money is vital to help funding the support sufferers and their families need.”
The funds raised by Larking Gowen will be split equally across MNDA’s East Anglia region’s three branches – Colchester & NE Essex, Norfolk, Norwich & Waveney and Suffolk.
The MNDA is predominantly run by volunteers, so money raised goes directly to providing support to people suffering with the condition, and their families. People with Motor Neurone Disease receive visits from NHS Occupational Therapists, who assess their physical needs, then contact the MNDA to arrange for specialist equipment to be delivered to their homes.
Some of the money raised by Larking Gowen will be used to fund this equipment, which includes riser-recliner chairs, head collars and neck supports, and communication aids. These items make a significant difference to the day-to-day lives of people living with the condition. The money will also help pay for reflexology and physiotherapy sessions for patients, which help ease symptoms and make life more comfortable.