Donations pour in as Eric aims for £10,000

FLASHBACK to August last year and a summer fair at Chadderton Hall Park for Multiple System Atrophy, attended by the Mayor, Councillor Olwen Chadderton, her Consort Roy Chadderton, with Glen Harrison, Elliot Whitnall, Angela Armitage and Eric Armitage.

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.