About The Mel Evans MBE Foundation
The Mel Evans MBE Foundation is a small charity with colossal ambitions. Founded by me, Lynn Pritchatt, the foundation was established after the heart-breaking loss of my husband, Mel, to Motor Neurone Disease (MND). MND is a rare condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and is often described as uncommon yet increasingly prevalent. The lifetime risk of receiving an MND diagnosis is 1 in 300, and the average life expectancy for those diagnosed is just one to two years.
I’ll admit that when Mel was diagnosed, I struggled to cope. Our lives were turned upside down, and the disease’s rapid progression left us feeling isolated from our family and friends. The toll MND took on Mel was devastating, and his journey with the disease lasted only 15 months. While his suffering ended in 2017, my grief has been a relentless and an ongoing struggle. I share this not to invite pity but to help you understand the sheer devastation this disease brings to individuals, their families, and close friends.
In my darkest moments, I decided to channel my grief into action, establishing The Mel Evans MBE Foundation as a way to transform my pain into positive change. Granted charitable status in August 2019, the foundation was set to officially launch in 2020. Unfortunately, our plans were disrupted by the global pandemic that soon followed.
Crown Green Bowls
Crown Green Bowls was our shared passion. Mel and I both enjoyed illustrious careers in the sport and even spearheaded media coverage on platforms like Sky TV and Channel 4. Since Mel’s passing, the Crown Green Bowling community has rallied around me with incredible support, helping raise more than £100,000 for MND research.
Over the past four years, our foundation has organized a variety of events to raise awareness and much-needed funding for research aimed at developing effective treatments for this devastating disease. Among our esteemed patrons is former World Snooker Champion, BBC Question of Sport team captain, and Crown Green Bowls enthusiast John Parrott MBE. (Fun fact: John was an accomplished bowler before discovering his love for snooker!)
Another of our distinguished patrons is Professor Dame Pamela Shaw, one of the UK’s leading neuroscientists and head of the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN). Every penny we raise supports cutting-edge research projects spearheaded by SITraN.
Last year, ITV’s iconic soap Coronation Street highlighted the harsh reality of living with MND in a powerful storyline. Peter Ash, who played Paul Foreman, delivered a brilliant performance that earned him widespread acclaim and multiple awards. Even though the storyline has ended, Peter remains a proud patron of our foundation and continues his tireless efforts to support the MND community.
The Power of Partnership
In November 2024, we partnered with the Darby Rimmer Foundation to host the inaugural Football Against MND Gala Dinner at the legendary Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. The evening was a star-studded event that brought together the world of football to stand in solidarity with the MND community.
The gala featured football legends like Sir Alex Ferguson, former Man Utd boss Big Ron Atkinson, and Lioness Jill Scott MBE. Also in attendance were Steph Houghton MBE and her husband, Stephen Darby, a former professional footballer who has been living with MND for the past five years. It was an unforgettable night dedicated to raising awareness and critical funding for MND research.
Looking Ahead: Masked Entertainer Gala Dinner
As we step into 2025, our focus remains steadfast on raising awareness and funds to advance research. Building on our recent successes, we are thrilled to announce our Masked Entertainer Gala Dinner, scheduled for Saturday, 12th April 2025, at Edgbaston County Cricket Ground.
This unique event, inspired by ITV’s The Masked Singer, will feature celebrities performing in costumes and masks for an evening of entertainment, camaraderie, and fundraising. We are delighted to welcome former professional footballer Marcus Stewart and his wife Louise, along with former England cricketers Chris Broad and Jonathan Agnew as our VIP guests. All of these esteemed VIP Guests have been impacted by MND. Their incredible efforts in the fight against MND have been truly inspiring and have touched countless lives.
We are calling on businesses to support this meaningful cause. Your contributions—whether as a prize donation or through our sponsorship packages—can help make this event a success. In return, you’ll benefit from:
- Social media promotion reaching approximately one million people.
- Advertisement placement in our event program.
- Comprehensive sponsorship benefits at the Fundraising Dinner.
Imagine the impact of knowing you’ve contributed to the fight against this devastating disease.
If this resonates with you and you’d like to learn more, I would be delighted to discuss our work, vision, and plans for 2025 in greater detail. Please feel free to contact me at lynn@melevansfoundation.org.uk or via 07808 157878.
