Brave Pamela takes on Firewalk for M&S colleague Betty

Pamela Christie (52), from Glasgow, is gearing up to take on a charity challenge which involves walking over 20ft of fiery embers, at a temperature hot enough to melt aluminium.

The challenge takes place on Friday 12^th October, pitch-side inside Hampden Park stadium, where she will join dozens of supporters raising awareness of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and funds for the charity MND Scotland.

Pamela, a Customer Assistant at M&S Silverburn, is taking on the challenge in honour of her colleague, Elizabeth “Betty” Dyre, who was diagnosed with MND over a year ago.

MND is a rapidly progressing terminal illness, which stops signals from the brain reaching the muscles. This may cause someone to lose the ability to walk, talk, eat, drink or breathe unaided. There is currently no cure or effective treatment for MND and the average life expectancy from diagnosis is just 20 months.

Pamela said: “Betty worked on the early morning fill in ladieswear. She was always bright and cheery, even though she sometimes started at 6am. She worked alongside her colleague Mary and the two have become great friends. She was hard working and kind and supportive to those around her. Apart from work her life was all about family.

“It’s because of Betty that I’m taking on the MND Scotland Firewalk at Hampden Park on Friday 12^th October. I’ve secured £125 on my JustGiving page so far and a further £200 on my sponsorship form in store. I’m so thrilled that some of my work colleagues will be coming along to Hampden to support me!”

“As a business, M&S encourages each store to support a charity locally, as well as the main charities they are involved with. Local charities are nominated and all of my colleagues voted which one we would like to support. After being given the news about Betty it was an easy decision to nominate and support MND Scotland in store.

“I never thought I would ever do something like a Firewalk, so I’m really testing myself! The store will be holding a fundraising weekend prior to my Firewalk and we are also planning a charity night for MND Scotland later in the year too!”

Morag McGown, Corporate Partnerships Manager at MND Scotland, said: “I’d like to thank Pamela and all of the staff at M&S Silverburn who have shown so much energy and support for MND Scotland over the past few months.

“We have been lucky to hold bag packing in store and we’ve been encouraged by staff members, like Pamela, who have gone out of their comfort zone to help raise awareness and funds. I am also delighted that the store is supporting MND Scotland with the 5p carrier bag charge.

“As a charity, MND Scotland provides care, information and support to people affected by MND in Scotland – as well as funding cutting-edge research into a cure. We wouldn’t be able to do any of this without people like Pamela standing behind us.”

You can sponsor Pamela online at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pamela-christie66