Donations pour in as Eric aims for £10,000

Reporter: Gill Potts
Date published: 22 January 2013


DONATIONS are flooding into an appeal close to the heart of a local man struck down by a crippling condition.

Eric Armitage’s effort has already raised £400 for the Multiple System Atrophy Trust — on top of the £6,500 he and his family have generated with events to raise awareness of the little-known neurological condition since last year.

Eric (58), from Chadderton, ran the Woodwork Project at Chadderton Hall Park and was a football coach and an Oldham Council learning mentor for people with disabilities. After being diagnosed with MSA — similar symptoms to Parkinson’s disease, and caused by degeneration of nerve cells in the brain — he pledged to help the trust reach its £1 million target.

“Eric has set a target of £10,000 on his Justgiving page but he wants to raise a million, but in small steps,” said his wife, Angela.

She was was rocked by the news of Eric’s devastating illness and has given up work to help care for him: “It’s the cruellest, most terrible disease. Eric is very brave, especially using his illness to help others. Make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/Eric-Armitage2013.