A retired orthodontist who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) just over a year ago is organising a fancy dress dip on Brighton beach on Friday.<\/p>\n
Jon (Joff) Machell, who was diagnosed with MND in October last year, has organised the dip during the British Orthodontic Conference in the city.<\/p>\n
The 56-year-old, who is from Exeter in Devon, wants friends and colleagues to gather in outrageous fancy dress and form a giant circle in the shallows, performing a Mexican wave to raise awareness of MND.<\/p>\n
Machell says the event is about “bringing people together, celebrating life, and raising as much awareness as possible of this devastating disease”.<\/p>\n
MND is a progressive neurological condition affecting the nerves controlling voluntary movement. It can affect walking, speech, swallowing and breathing, and there is currently no cure.<\/p>\n
The retired orthodontist says he is really keen to “highlight the urgent need for increased government funding for MND research”, and hopes his Brighton event services that aim.<\/p>\n
Together with friends, Machell has raised a combined \u00a3117,000 for the MND Association through a variety of fundraising efforts, including a dip at Marazion Beach in Cornwall held three months ago.<\/a><\/p>\n Machell said that, while his “speech and strength are deteriorating”, he is determined to remain positive. <\/p>\n In 2023, prior to his diagnosis, he swam the 11-mile length of Lake Windermere for charity. <\/p>\n Now, three years later, the retired orthodontist says he now struggles to walk.<\/p>\n He says: “Long swims are no longer possible, so I have instead been enjoying lots of ‘Chilly Dips’ in beautiful locations with family and friends.”<\/p>\n Machell is inviting his friends and colleagues to meet in fancy dress at 17:00 BST directly in front of the Brighton Conference Centre, with the dip to begin at 17:30. <\/p>\n Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, external<\/a>, on X, external<\/a>, and on Instagram, external<\/a> and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds<\/a>. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external<\/a> or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/p>\n