A Rickmansworth resident has been awarded a British Empire Medal for her services to People with Motor Neurone Disease in the Asian community after her work with Jaspal’s Voice.
Susan Nat Graham BEM admitted she thought it was a hoax when she was told she was being awarded the honour but was incredibly over the moon after she realised it was very much real.
Her sister, Jaspal, battled with motor neurone disease for more than 10 years and sadly passed away in May 2012 at the age of just 47 years old, leaving behind a husband and her three young children.
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a rare, progressive, and terminal disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord.
It can affect how you walk, talk, eat, drink and breathe and the average life expectancy is from two to five years from the onset of symptoms.
Susan set up Jaspal’s Voice in her memory, which is a non-profit organisation to raise awareness and funds to provide technology that helps MND patients communicate more easily to get a better quality of life.
Speaking to RickyNews, Susan said: “I have to admit that I thought it was a hoax when I first got the call, I started interrogating the caller! But when I realised it was real, I started crying and was so excited.
“It’s something you never expect to happen to you and it’s huge for the purpose behind the organisation. The whole family are overwhelmed, but now we want to raise even more awareness and improve everything that we already do.
“During Jaspal’s illness, she communicated with her family with ways that astounded doctors with their ingenuity and simplicity. My aim is to provide those diagnosed with the disease to receive a tool that helps them communicate with their family and friends.
“The NHS provide expensive equipment that cannot be supplied to everyone with the disease. It is left to charities and donors to meet the shortfall.”
To find out more about the incredible work Susan and others are doing, head to jaspalsvoice.co.uk.
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