Ron’s on a roll!

5:50pm Wednesday 8th October 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

AN EPIC fundraising campaign by a pensioner who aims to help York patients suffering from a devastating condition is stepping up a gear.

Ron Middlemass, of Huntington, in York, is hoping a charity dance next weekend will break through the £3,000 barrier in his quest to raise £12,000 for a vital piece of equipment for York Hospital.

Ron, 74, suffers from Myasthenia Gravis (MS) – a muscle weakening disease that can attack anybody at any time.

Muscles that control eye movement, chewing, talking and swallowing are easily susceptible and in the worst case scenario, MG can cause patients to stop breathing.

Ron, who ran Petland in New Earswick for 16 years before he retired, said: “The worst thing about the disease is the fact that it’s so unpredictable.

“One moment you can be fine and the next moment you can find your head is wobbling all over the place, or you can’t breathe.

“I’m quite lucky because it’s still only in my eyes, but there are people who are far worse than me and this machine will make a huge difference to their lives.

“I want to do this for all the people I have met who have got this horrible illness is such terrible ways.”

His aim is to raise enough money to buy a carbon dioxide monitor for York Hospital’s neurology ward.

Dr Phil Duffey, a consultant neurologist at York Hospital, said: “Depending on the monitor’s readings we would be able to determine whether a patient requires ventilation and, if ventilated, whether the settings on the ventilator are optimal.

“Presently this information requires a sample of arterial blood which can be difficult and painful to obtain, particularly when multiple samples are required.

“The CO2 monitor would enable us to obtain the same information more frequently and in a non-invasive way, which can only benefit patients.

“We are grateful for Ron’s fundraising efforts and hope that we will soon be able to put the machine to good use in the hospital for the benefit of our patients.”

Ron’s next fundraiser will be an evening of ballroom and Latin American dancing at New Earswick Folk Hall on Saturday, October 18.

Guests will be treated to live music from organist Ray Kirk, who plays at Whitby Pavilion, and the £8 ticket price includes a jacket potato supper.

Doors open at 7.30pm and a bar will be available. To book tickets, phone Ron on 01904 679939.

He would also like to hear from anybody who would like to donate a raffle prize.