Lord Sugar’s message and Jordan’s Ferrari ride

The evening’s auction raised just over £12,000 for Muscle Dreams™ set up by the charity to provide amazing and unforgettable experiences in the UK for children like Jordan (pictured below) suffering from muscular dystrophy.

Speaking on the night, the charity’s Founder, inspirational speaker and the only disabled person in the world to have successfully led expeditions to both the North and South Poles, Michael McGrath said, “I’m absolutely thrilled with the outcome of tonight’s fundraiser. Against all the odds and despite the tough current economic landscape which has unquestionably influenced people’s giving disposition over the past 12 months, the fantastic generosity of our guests on the night including our telephone bidders and a standalone donation of £1700 from another charity, we achieved our goal – thank you so much to everyone.”

A note from Jordan’s mum Lyn Williams to the charity summed it up – “My son Jordan has not stopped talking about last week. He had the time of his life! He was taken by complete surprise when he heard Lord Sugar’s message. His face was a picture! As for the Muscle Dreams™ goody bag, well let’s just say that Christmas has come early for the Williams family! Thank you so much for everything!”

Hayley Felton (Television Presenter) representing Leap Anywhere TV (the first entirely volunteer driven online charity TV platform) along with Charles Huff (Cameraman & Production Director) produced a short film available online at Vimeo and YouTube of the evening’s proceeding’s titled Muscle DreamsTM – click here to watch it.

The highpoint of the evening was undoubtedly the fulfilment of Jordan’s Muscle Dream™ involving a Ferrari and a message from Lord Alan Sugar. “Jordan who has the most severe form of muscular dystrophy known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy or DMD for short was joined by his younger sister Ffallon and his older brother Stephen from their home in Hertfordshire in a jet-black Ferrari 612 Scaglietti F1, the flagship of the Ferrari range that had earlier pulled up outside their home,” said Michael McGrath.

“Most boys love fast cars. Jordan loves Ferraris. His extensive collection, enthusiasm and passion were clearly evident. When the 6.0 litre V12 sports car pulled up into the family’s driveway combined with the sound of the 540bhp engine, Jordan’s expression said it all. It was a priceless moment! The element of surprise was absolutely crucial. Everyone played their part brilliantly. Mum (Lyn) and Dad (Steve) had to be tight-lipped for several weeks, especially throughout the planning process that involved several covert telephone conversations. Secrecy was utterly paramount.”

In addition, Jordan is a great fan of the television programme ‘The Apprentice’ and especially Lord Alan Sugar whom he admires greatly. Michael learnt several months earlier that Jordan is forever saying to his mum ‘Mum, you’re fired!’ – with this in mind, the charity with Jordan’s parents started planning.

A special audio-message by Lord Sugar was delivered on the night at the RAC, along with a personally signed and framed photograph (pictured above) which was presented to Jordan on the evening byMichael McGrath. Lord Sugar’s message was as follows:

The personal message delivered by Lord Alan Sugar to Jordan Williams on the night at the RAC

 The guest of honour on the evening was Tom McNab, one of the world's leaders in sport having experienced success as an Olympic coach, prizewinning novelist with ‘Flanagan's Run’ and Technical Director of the Oscar-winning film, "Chariots of Fire".

After the event,Michael McGrath said, “When I first met Tom (pictured below), he introduced himself to me as the nerd with muscles. I replied – I’m the nerd without muscles. The rest as they say is history! Tom spoke from the heart, making the powerful link between muscles, sport and achievement,” said McGrath.

“I want more people to hear about what muscular dystrophy does, how it destroys lives and how those living with it can and do achieve fulfilment. I want to empower, inspire and motivate others to engage with this cause – remember, it takes 10 muscles to smile, 12 to frown but only 1 to make a difference, something that MHF tries very hard to do through its Muscle DreamsTM programme,” added McGrath.

“None of us must ever forget the many parents, guardians, uncles, aunties, husbands, wives and friends who live their lives in order to help their sons, their daughters, their partners and who in each and every waking day, give of themselves in loving unconditionally, caring for, supporting and helping those in the family whose lives are being destroyed by this disease,” said Michael McGrath, himself a sufferer of muscular dystrophy.

“Whether that be turning someone four of five times in a night, feeding a child unable to feed themselves, helping someone into a hoist so they can enjoy the warmth of a bath or simply helping a person to relax and breathe more easily at night time so they can sleep – that’s why we must never ever give up the fight against muscular dystrophy, that’s why our vital work needs more support so we can deliver many more Muscle Dreams™ in the future, that’s why it’s important.”

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ~

H.R. Owen Sports Cars London
http://www.hrowen.co.uk/

The driver of the Ferrari was Mr Owen Rothwell (Marketing Manager) of H.R. Owen Sports Cars London. He was extremely generous with his time and fantastic with Jordan and his family. The Muscular Help Foundation is extremely grateful to H.R. Owen Sports Cars London for their support of Jordan’s Muscle Dream™. With over 65 years experience and offering friendly expert advice, H R Owen deal in a range of exclusive cars, including Rolls Royce, Ferrari, TVR, Lotus and Land Rover.

NSN Productions Limited
www.nsn-productions.com
Susan Heaton-Wright, Company Director

This company provides high quality live musical entertainment for corporate and private events, including parties, weddings, celebrations and corporate entertainment. With over 25 years of experience in the music and entertainment business, musicians range from Gospel Singers and String Quartets to jazz bands, the Bella Donnas and The Romantic Tenor.

Bella Donnas
Nicola Wydenbach, Nicola Stonehouse, Victoria Manders-Jones

The Bella Donnas are three beautiful ladies who sing close harmony arrangements of popular, classical and crossover music. Perfect as surprise singing guests or after dinner entertainment, their stunning voices will entertain your guests and transform your event.

The Romantic Tenor

Neil Simon trained as an operatic tenor. He has recently recorded his first disc of romantic Italian songs. He can serenade you with a wide variety of songs and arias from Italy, Spain and Latin America as well popular songs from the shows and those made famous by the 'crooners'. His debut CD comprising 14 romantic Italian songs is available from www.theromantictenor.com

SPECIAL THANKS TO ~

Jane Finnerty ~ for supplying the beautiful stemmed roses
Mike Ashton ~ for being our incredible auctioneer
Steve Carter ~ for being our official photographer
Charles Huff of Well Drawn Productions ~ for our Muscle DreamsTM film
Hayley Felton ~ for her TV interviewing & presentation skills
Reg Parsons of Production Plus Ltd ~ for providing the production equipment
To the evening’s helpers and MHF’s Friends
To those individuals and companies who donated items for our auction
To Miss Gemma McGrath ~ for data capture and event reconciliation skills
To Dr Justin Roberts (Trustee) ~ for volunteering his time in executing the event

About Muscle Dreams™
These can cost anywhere between £250 to for example £5000 – The Muscular Help Foundation (MHF) is unable to fund every single Muscle Dream™ nomination received. If you or your company would like to either help us raise further funds so we can deliver more Muscle Dreams™ or perhaps sponsor s specific Muscle DreamTM or offer resources (people) with skills and/or time in helping the charity to scale up its operational capability, you can contact us via email or phone us directly on +44 (0) 1763 274658.

About Michael McGrath
Michael is the co-founder of The Muscular Help Foundation. He works tirelessly to raise funds and awareness of muscular dystrophy, a disease that he himself suffers from, a disease that remains the single biggest genetic killer of children in our world today. A relentless and unforgiving disease, it robs sufferers of their mobility, independence and finally for those with the most severe form, predominantly children, their lives.

Michael is a well-known inspirational speaker and an inspiration to tens of thousands of people around the world both with and without this disease. In 2002, despite his worsening condition and with the guidance back home from Pen Hadow, his polar pal and fellow Ready Steady Cook contestant (the pair appeared on the programme in Feb 2007), Michael led an expedition to the North Pole, an achievement he repeated two years later at the South Pole. In so doing, he became the only disabled person in the world to have successfully led expeditions to both the North and South Poles.

Michael’s extraordinary feats earned him an invitation to Buckingham Palace in December 2004 where he joined a small group of invited guests representing the diverse communities of Britain and subsequently, he appeared in the Queen’s 2004 Christmas Day broadcast to the nation from Buckingham Palace in … recognition of his contribution to national life. This has subsequently brought further awareness for the charity established for fellow sufferers even less fortunate than himself.

Within the past year (2009) and as a direct result of further muscle deterioration, Michael has lost his ability to walk. He now uses a powered wheelchair which he himself light-heartedly refers to as his ‘chariot’. This enables him to continue with both his charitable work and his advisory / speaking assignments in engaging the hearts and minds of audiences around the world.

From the press office of The Muscular Help Foundation
Registered Charity No. 1096716