Home / Health / Cornwall Dip Fights Motor Neurone Disease
Cornwall Dip Fights Motor Neurone Disease
14 Jun
Summary
- Hundreds participated in a sea dip for Motor Neurone Disease awareness.
- Joff Machell, living with MND, organized swims to fund a cure.
- The event at Marazion Beach raised significant funds for MND research.
Hundreds of individuals braved the waters at Marazion Beach, Cornwall, on Saturday to participate in a sea dip, raising crucial awareness for Motor Neurone Disease (MND). This event was initiated by Joff Machell, a 56-year-old from Devon diagnosed with MND in October 2025. Machell expressed his initial despair but soon sought to make a positive impact within the MND community.
MND, a life-shortening neurological condition, affects nerve control of voluntary muscles, leading to progressive muscle weakness. The MND Association notes that approximately one in 300 people face a lifetime risk of developing the disease. Machell's initiative is also dedicated to raising money for the MND Association to support research aimed at finding a cure.
Olympic rower Helen Glover and Labour MP Perran Moon joined Machell at the Cornwall event. Glover emphasized how MND can affect anyone, regardless of their fitness, highlighting the profound loss experienced when a healthy lifestyle is suddenly impacted. The community's support was evident, with many wearing orange, the colour associated with the MND Association, as St. Michael's Mount was illuminated in its honour at sunset.
Pamela Machell, Joff's wife, described the turnout as 'absolutely amazing,' with the couple having raised around £80,000 so far. She acknowledged the emotional difficulty of their journey but stressed the importance of celebrating life and supporting the MND Association's vital work in the face of a tragic lack of a cure.
