12yr Old Ferrari Petrol-head With Muscular Dystrophy Who’s Forever Saying ‘Mum, You’re Fired’ Receives Muscle Dream With Message From Lord Alan Sugar

Tues 13th Oct saw The Muscular Help Foundation that delivers Muscle Dreams for sufferers of the muscle wasting disease muscular dystrophy, host its 3rd Annual London Flagship Fundraiser at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall ... event included a v-special message from Lord Alan Sugar, a chauffeur driven Ferrari into London for 12yr old Jordan Williams plus £12,000 raised at auction. End Quote

Fantastic to see Jordan's face when that jet-black Ferrari pulled into his home driveway. Amazing experiences - precisely what Muscle Dreams are about

(1888PressRelease) October 21, 2009 - On Tuesday, 13th October 2009, The Muscular Help Foundation (a UK-based charity) that delivers Muscle Dreams for sufferers of the debilitating muscle wasting disease muscular dystrophy, held its 3rd Annual London Fundraiser at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall. The evening involved a very special personal message from Lord Alan Sugar and a chauffeur driven experience in a Ferrari for a 12 year old boy by the name of Jordan Williams.

The evening’s auction raised almost £12,000 for Muscle Dreams – a unique programme set up by this dynamic Hertfordshire-based charity to provide amazing and unforgettable experiences in the UK for children and young people suffering from muscular dystrophy.

Speaking on the night, the charity’s Founder, Inspirational Speaker and the first and only disabled person in the world to have successfully led expeditions to both the North and South Poles, Michael McGrath said, “I’m absolutely thrilled. Muscular dystrophy remains the single biggest genetic killer of children on the planet. Here in the UK alone there are about 60,000 people who have to fight each and every day of their lives according to how the disease affects them. It robs sufferers of their mobility, independence and finally for those with the most severe type, predominantly children, their lives.”

“None of us must ever forget those parents and people who live their lives for their sons, their daughters, their partners and who in each and every waking day, unconditionally give of themselves in caring for, supporting and helping those in the family whose lives are slowly being destroyed by this wretched disease” added Michael, himself a sufferer of muscular dystrophy.

Michael added, “whether that be turning someone four of five times in a night, feeding a child unable to feed themselves, helping a sufferer into a hoist so they can enjoy the warmth of a bath or simply helping a person to relax and breathe more easily at night time so they can sleep more easily … that’s why we must never ever give up the fight against muscular dystrophy ... and that’s why our vital work needs more support so we can deliver many more Muscle Dreams”

The highlight of the night was the delivery of a special Muscle Dream involving a Ferrari and a personalised message from Lord Alan Sugar. The Muscle Dream in question was for Jordan Williams, a 12 year old boy with the most severe form of muscular dystrophy known as DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy). Jordan along with his younger sister Ffallon and his older brother Stephen accompanied Jordan from their home in Hatfield, Hertfordshire in a stunning jet-black Ferrari 612 Scaglietti F1, the flagship of the Ferrari range that had earlier pulled up outside the family home.”

“Jordan loves Ferraris. When the 6.0 litre V12 sports car pulled up into the family’s driveway combined with the sound of the 540bhp engine, Jordan’s expression said it all. It was a priceless moment! The element of surprise was absolutely crucial. Everyone played their part brilliantly, including Mum (Lyn) and Dad (Steve) both of whom had to keep the whole experience of the day and the evening a secret,” commented Michael McGrath.

In addition, Jordan is a great fan of the television programme ‘The Apprentice’ and especially Lord Alan Sugar. Michael McGrath learnt several months earlier that Jordan is forever saying to his mum ‘Mum, you’re fired!’ so with this in mind, the charity started planning.

A personal audio-message by Lord Alan Sugar was delivered on the night, along with a personally signed and framed photograph which was handed to Jordan on the evening by the charity’s Founder, Michael McGrath. Lord Sugar’s message was as follows:

"Hi Jordan – I'm so sorry I couldn't be there with you this evening – I'm afraid I've got a completely full week firing apprentices - people think it's easy you know but actually Jordan it's really hard work. So I hope this message and the signed photograph Michael has for you will be OK. Michael tells me you're a big fan of The Apprentice Jordan and can often be heard telling your mum "Mum - You're fired". Well, let me offer you one tip Jordan - it's probably best to make sure your Mum's made your tea, cleaned your room, washed your favourite T-shirt and put the kettle on before saying it ... just in case! I think you're all at the RAC club this evening raising money for the Muscle Help Foundation to help deliver fantastic Muscle Dreams for kids all over the country. Well, please dig deep and remember, if in doubt, BID - after all it's only money and it's all going to a great cause! And Jordan, if you notice anyone not bidding enough, you know what to say, at the top of your voice, that's right ... YOU’RE FIRED!! Good luck to everyone there this evening and especially to you Jordan. Now, where was I, oh yes, right, BRING IN THE NEXT APPRENTICE" {SOURCE: Lord Alan Sugar}.

The Muscular Help Foundation and Muscle DreamsTM was founded by Michael McGrath, who himself has been confined to a wheelchair by muscular dystrophy but nonetheless works tirelessly to raise awareness of this muscle disease and funds for his fellow sufferers.

Michael is a well-known international motivational speaker and an inspiration to tens of thousands of people around the world with this most cruel and unforgiving disease. In 2002, despite his worsening condition and with the guidance back home of his polar pal Pen Hadow (whom he appeared with on the BBC’s Ready Steady Cook programme in Feb 2007), Michael led an expedition to the North Pole, an achievement he repeated two years later at the South Pole becoming the first and only disabled person to have successfully led expeditions to both Poles.

Michael’s extraordinary feats earned him a mention in the Queen’s 2004 Christmas Day broadcast from Buckingham Palace in recognition of his contribution to national life. This has subsequently brought further recognition for the charity he established for fellow sufferers even less fortunate than himself.

Michael McGrath said: “Looking back on those expeditions and seeing the film that was shown at the RAC on the night, it is particularly poignant because over the past two years or so since my muscles have deteriorated further, I’m now no longer able to walk. I now want to give others with muscular dystrophy the opportunity to live their dreams or perhaps fulfil cherished ambitions. That’s what it’s all about!”

Few people know that over the past year Michael McGrath’s condition has worsened still further and he has now lost his ability to do certain simple things that most if not all of us take for granted - this degeneration comes as a direct result of muscular dystrophy.

“I want more people to hear about what this disease does, how it destroys lives and how the muscular dystrophy community in the UK must continue to collaborate. I want to empower, inspire and motivate others to engage with this cause – it takes 10 muscles to smile, 12 to frown but only 1 to make a difference, something we try hard to do through Muscle DreamsTM, added Michael McGrath.

Lyn Williams said “My son Jordan has not stopped talking about last week. He had the time of his life! How fantastic to have had his younger sister Ffallon and older brother Stephen in the Ferrari with him. Jordan had a brilliant time asking the driver about what every button, knob, lever, switch, dial etc was for! He was taken by complete surprise when he heard Lord Alan Sugar’s message – his face was a picture! As for the Muscle DreamsTM goody bag, well let’s just say that Christmas has come early! Thank you so much for everything!”

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