Pound for pound for PSPA

13 December 2016

Like many of us, Jon Garrard, Pad’s Director of Business Development, will be trying to lose some of those Christmas pounds in January. But Jon has an extra incentive – he’ll be raising money for charity with every pound he loses, and the reason is very close to home.

Last year, Jon’s dad was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), an incurable neurological condition caused by the premature loss of nerve cells in certain parts of the brain. The diagnosis was a devastating blow for the family. Together, they decided to raise money for the PSP Association, the charity that helps the 4,000 sufferers in the UK and their families and works to find a cure.

In July, Jon and his cousins ran the Vitality London 10km for the charity. So far, they have raised £4,600 but now Jon is trying to increase that total with a weight-loss challenge.

Jon has put his graphic design and marketing skills to good use by coming up with the PSPA Pound for Pound Challenge, and he’s built a website where people can sponsor him or set up their own weight-loss target while raising much-needed funds for the PSPA. Check it out at http://www.pspapoundforpoundchallenge.co.uk/

Jon said: “I always overindulge at Christmas. But this year I won’t feel guilty if I have one more mince pie, an extra roast potato or another Christmas drink because the more pounds I lose, the more money I’ll raise.”

James Murphy Voluntary and Community Fundraiser at the PSPA, is delighted by Jon’s idea. He said: “When Jon contacted me about the Pound for Pound Challenge, I thought it sounded like a brilliant way to raise funds for PSPA.  New Year is a really important time for us, and Jon’s challenge will really start 2017 with a bang.  Jon and his family have worked really hard in raising both funds and awareness of PSPA, and for this we are truly grateful.  We rely solely on voluntary donations, and the money raised really will make a difference to those living with PSP.  The funds support our team of Specialist Care Advisors, fund our Helpline Information Services, support our Local Groups which are organised solely by volunteers and fund research into the causes, treatments and eventually a cure for both of these conditions.”