A music producer is one of the faces of a national campaign to raise awareness of motor neurone disease (MND).
Steve Williams, from Wimbledon, is part of the MND Association’s Life Stripped Away campaign, which shares personal stories on billboards across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland throughout October to highlight the daily realities of living with the condition.
Mr Williams, who has worked with artists including Sting, Eric Clapton, and Lisa Stansfield, has lost much of his ability to play music due to MND.
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He said: "I hope this campaign sees empathy and an understanding perspective. It makes for society to be a better place and me not to be quite as invisible. MND slows you right down and you have to reconsider everything you do."
The campaign focuses on how MND strips away everyday activities, independence and passions.
Mr Williams first noticed symptoms in 2015 during a family holiday, when he began biting his tongue while eating and speaking. After around 18 months of medical tests, he was diagnosed with MND.
Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the MND Association works to improve access to care, fund research, and campaigns for those affected by the disease.
Volunteers in regions like south west London offer practical and emotional support to individuals living with MND and their families.
The charity hopes the campaign will build a greater public understanding of the disease and the everyday experiences it takes from people like Mr Williams.
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."
The MND Association aims to make every day count for those affected by the disease by providing practical and financial support, raising awareness, and campaigning for better care. It also funds research into new treatments and a future cure.
MND is a fast-progressing condition that currently has no cure, taking away time, independence, and daily joys from those it affects. To find out more about the Life Stripped Away campaign, visit mndassociation.org.
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