Update

11 June 2008

We continue to be very busy at MMT with interviews for new members of staff and the art fair which is now over and raised £7,200 for the Trust. Plans for our big 2008 fundraiser, the Casino Royale night on 29th November are well under way (more on that in a moment)  and all this is in addition to daily requests from our beneficiaries for epilepsy alarms and other  forms of practical support. Our volunteer fundraisers have been busy too. The boys at Maidwell Hall have now completed their Lake District Expedition and  I am thrilled that Christopher Biggins will be joining me at Maidwell Hall's Speech day on 5th July for the presentation of their fundraising cheque.

It seems that our new website has been well received by all those who have seen it. Ann-Marie works hard to keep it bang up to date and with one or two final touches in place this week (mainly films), it will be complete.  Our thanks to Tictoc and Quaymultimedia who have worked hard to adapt our films for the website and and a huge thank you to Travis who have allowed us to use their hit single "Closer" in our film about the DNA service.  You can find that under What We Do.

Casino Royale is taking shape. We are privileged to have Michelin Star Chef Martin Wishart and his team, once again closing his waterfront restaurant in Leith to prepare a fine dining experience for our guests at this event which is being hosted by the Sheraton Grande Hotel in Edinburgh. Our star attraction for the night is our new find, Aret - check out her Myspace page on www.myspace.com/aretsongs. We are also delighted that the evening will be supported by jazz singers Todd Gordon and Jacqui Dankworth. Diamonds have been donated by Laings,The Jeweller and a designer car will be the focus of our Texas Hold'em game which starts at midnight.  MMT money has already gone to print in anticipation of a very busy night on the tables!

And there there is Muir.  He continues to be, for the most part, seizure free since the introduction of a new drug regime which was the result of the findings of Yorkhill's DNA service. He is responding well to life without seizures and his language continues to develop. Not so good though, is the extent of the damage to his motor skills which is beginning to emerge now - a side effect of Muir's type of epilepsy.  It has been a challenge persuading the NHS to address the problem. A few weeks ago we finally got splints for Muir's feet and ankles which if nothing else, will slow down the speed of deterioration. I can't bear to think about it but a wheel chair in the end may be inevitable. It really is a tragedy.

Best wishes to all,

Ann Maxwell, mother of Muir