WALKING to school with their children is something most parents take for granted, unless like Ann Franklin you are battling a debilitating disease.Ann, 49, suffers from Motor Neurone Disease which causes severe mobility problems, wasting of muscles and loss of speech.

WALKING to school with their children is something most parents take for granted, unless like Ann Franklin you are battling a debilitating disease.

Ann, 49, suffers from Motor Neurone Disease which causes severe mobility problems, wasting of muscles and loss of speech.

She recently gave a talk about the condition to pupils at Caister Junior School where her nine year old son Max is a pupil.

After learning about the illness staff and pupil held a non uniform day to help raise money for the MND Association.

A total of �200 was raised with the cash split between the association and the Great Yarmouth Rotary Club's polio appeal.

Learning support assistant Angela Barber also held a raffle with prizes from Body Shop to add the sum collected.

Ann said: “After I spoke some of the children said they understood a lot more about the disease and wanted to do something to help.

“I am very grateful for the money that they have raised but it is important to increase awareness of MND too.

“My legs are getting worse have to try a keep mobile and emotionally it is a roller coaster too.

“I need a wheelchair when I go out for the day, but am still able to walk with Max to school and have a stair lift at home.”

Following a campaign by Ann, other local MND sufferers and their families' three specialist neurological nurses have been recruited for the Great Yarmouth area.

They will treat patients with MND, multiple sclerosis and parkinson's disease adding to the existing neurological nurse based at the James Paget University Hospital.

“The nurses will be a major asset there has been no support in this area for people suffering from motor neurone disease,” added Ann.

A former student counsellor at East Norfolk Sixth Form College, Ann has suffered from MND for four years, but was only diagnosed with the condition last year.

Husband Barrie is planning a sponsored cycle ride across Norfolk in July for the MND Association. Anyone interested in sponsoring him should call 01493 720914.