Ex top cop takes MND campaign to Downing Street

Chris Johnson, a former assistant chief constable for West Midlands Police has joined rugby and football stars Rob Burrow, Doddie Weir and Stephen Darby to deliver an open letter to Number 10, demanding the government to invest £50 million in MND research over five years.

The open letter which calls the illness a ‘death sentence’ has been signed by hundreds of people battling the terminal illness.

It says the government invests at a level of less than £5 million a year which is insufficient for the nature of the disease.

Chris Johnson before he travelled to Downing Street to hand over an open letter asking for more funding into MND research.

If £50 million was ploughed into research this would accelerate the delivery of life saving treatment.

The letter states: “MND patients are fed up with being told that it will be many years until life-saving treatments can be developed - we believe that they can be delivered much sooner.

“How many more people will die a horrific death before we push for change?”

Mr Johnson, aged 54 from Bromsgrove, was diagnosed with MND in September 2018 which led him to retire from the force in September 2020 after 29 years of service.

Chris Johnson with ex Liverpool football player, Stephen Darby.

MND is a debilitating condition that affects the brain and nerves which can significantly decrease life expectancy.

Chris and his wife Sharon, who have two children, said they are honoured to be presenting the letter to the government.

“The funding if approved has a real opportunity to transform how research is undertaken and hopefully develop a cure to a currently terminal disease,” said Chris.

“The scientists are confident it will have a huge impact on their understanding of the disease and how it can be treated.

“The funding has the potential to stop MND from being a death sentence for the people in the future.”