MORE than £5,000 has been raised in memory of a much-loved grandmother and author from Romsey.

A JustGiving page has been set up in memory of Jacky Chalcraft.

Jacky, also known as Banma to her grandchildren, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) on September 7, 2020 and died peacefully at home on December 21, according to the fundraising site.

The fundraiser has been set up by her daughter Katie Chalcraft.

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Writing on the site, she said: “The MND Association (MNDA) has done so much to help us both with Mum and also with Mum’s mother (Granny Buckett who died of the same disease).

“The MNDA provided Mum with software to speak using her iPad. They have also been incredible at providing us all with consistent emotional and practical support through multiple phone calls over the last 15 months and providing us with clear directions on how to fulfill mum’s wishes of donating her brain tissue for research after Mum passed away.

“The MNDA talks about how MND isn’t incurable it is just underfunded. Mum was so determined that they find a cure for this disease.

“Every penny donated makes such a difference to people with MND and their families.

“In the spring of 2021 I asked Mum what her goal would be for fundraising for the MNDA. She said ‘£5,000’. Then she said ‘oh no, that’s far too much, we will never make it’ nonetheless we set our target, set up this page and decided to give it a go!

“By the time Mum passed away we had fundraised almost half of our goal, mainly through selling Mum’s amazing children’s books Banma’s Animals and Remmy and the Aminals.”

More information on these books can be found at banmasbooks.com

Katie continued: “We would love to help the MND Association support more families with MND and to advance the science in coming up with a cure for this disease.

“Mum has been the most incredible role model to us, despite losing function in her hands she continued to find different ways to paint every day right up until the end. Her last couple of months of life were filled with her painting hundreds of beautiful butterflies.

“She would make the grandkids laugh by pressing emoticons on her iPad and typing out funny things in a variety of different accents (from Scottish and Irish to Indian). She has been and will continue to be a true inspiration to us and she is loved and missed by so many.

“Thank you so much for your support, we are so grateful.”

The Justgiving page has now exceeded the initial £5,000 target with £5,238 contributed by 46 supporters.

To make a donation go to justgiving.com/fundraising/banma.

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