A theatre enthusiast from Hove has taken centre stage in a new charity campaign to raise awareness of the impacts of motor neurone disease (MND).
Jaki Jackson, 58, who previously starred as Nancy in a production of Oliver! at Brighton’s Royal Pavilion, received the devastating diagnosis of MND in 2022.
Jaki’s experience of life before, during and after an MND diagnosis will feature in the MND Association’s new awareness campaign, Life stripped away, across television and radio adverts, social media and online.
Through Jaki’s own eyes, the television advert shows MND preventing Jaki from performing on stage, visiting the theatre and, eventually, being trapped in her body.
The 30 second film portrays real moments from Jaki’s life: struggling to sign her wedding certificate, initial confusion when she experiences her first symptoms and her voice failing to reach the notes she had once sung with ease. The advert ends with Jaki receiving care from her husband Steve and the words, “Motor neurone disease traps you inside of your body, stripping away the life you love.”
Jaki said: “I’ve always loved being out and about, going to the theatre, travelling and spending time with family and friends. Those are the things MND has gradually taken away from me.”
“I want people across Brighton and Sussex to understand what this disease does, because many people still don’t know much about it.”
MND is a fatal, rapidly progressing neurological disease. Today six people will be diagnosed with MND, and six people will die from the disease. There is no cure. MND attacks and damages the nerves which take messages to the muscles. Within months a person may lose their voice, their movement and, ultimately, their ability to breathe.
“Being diagnosed with MND had a massive impact on not only me but everyone involved in my life. My husband became my carer and I had to give up work.” Jaki said.
Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the MND Association improves access to care, funds research and campaigns for people affected by MND. In local communities, including across Sussex, dedicated volunteers provide practical and emotional support to people living with the disease and those closest to them.
Through Life Stripped Away, the MND Association hopes more people will understand the reality of living with MND and the everyday moments and passions the disease takes away from people like Jaki.
Jaki’s television adverts will air on TV from now until November on ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, and across commercial radio stations.
Richard Evans, Director of Engagement at the MND Association said:
“What we have learned over the last few years is that when the public understands the reality of MND, they want to do what they can to support people with it. And in keeping with us as a charity that has people affected by MND at the heart of its work, we wanted this campaign to give a platform to people with the disease to tell their stories.”
Read more about MND and the Life Stripped Away campaign on our website: mndassociation.org.
