THE former mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, Mike Findley MBE, has inspired his former council to sign up to a charter to improve the lives of his fellow Motor Neurone Disease sufferers.

Mr Findley was a highly regarded councillor before he began suffering with the condition in 2005 and went on to found his own charity, the Mike Findley MND Fund.

The MND Association charter says that people with MND have the right to an early diagnosis, high quality care, to be treated with respect and the right to maximise their quality of life.

Mr Findley said: “I'm really grateful to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council for agreeing to sign the MND Charter and becoming only the second council in the UK to sign it.

"I will now try and encourage other councils in the North-East to follow the example of Redcar and Cleveland.”

Councillor Mary Ovens, cabinet member for health and social wellbeing, said: “I am very pleased that Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has signed up to the MND charter.

"MND is a very cruel disease and anything we can do as a council to make lives more bearable for sufferers will make a positive difference.

“I urge everyone to sign the charter as soon as possible and support sufferers of MND to get their voices heard.”

To sign up to the MND charter, go to www.mndassociation.org/mndcharter, email campaigns@mndassociation.org, or telephone 01604 611684.