Blue moves

AFTER the death of special needs teacher Lesley Worrall's husband from motor Neuron Disease, St Mary's Star of the Sea College decided to act. As a school very proud of their fundraising efforts over the years the girls decked themselves out in blue ribbons, blue flowers, blue braids, blue wristbands and sprayed their hair blue for "Blue hair Friday" on April 7.

The day coincided with Motor Neurone Week, which began on April 3.

Ms Worrall, who joined in the spirit of the day by spraying her own hair blue, said the death of her husband 18 months ago devastated her and both her and her late husband's families.

"Every single day I live with it. Funding for the Motor Neurone Association is really poor, they rely on donations," said Ms Worrall

Motor Neurone Disease is the name given to a group of diseases in which the nerve cells controlling the muscles that enable us to move around, speak, breathe and swallow fail to work normally. With no nerves to activate them muscles gradually weaken and waste away. It is not known what causes Motor Neurone Disease and there is no cure. It is fatal and the person is often left only with a few months to pend with family and friends. "It is becoming more prevalent in all age groups, it is usually fit people who get it," Ms Worrall said.