More than £1,000 has been raised in just under a week by family and friends of Linda Clarke, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease two months ago.

Her daughters Emma Lyons, 46, and Sara Atkinson, 50, have been trying to raise as much money as possible for the charity MND, as their mum was diagnosed in April this year.

Mrs Clarke, 74, of Church Hill, Temple Ewell, is well known in Dover as she worked at Dover Health Centre on Maison Dieu Road and Peter Street for 30 years, and was also a member of the Temple Ewell Players.

Mrs Lyons, 46, senior admin assistant at Dover Girls Grammar, said: “I had an initial target of £500, smashed that in two days so I upped it to £1,000, and smashed that in just under a week.

“My mum is known by a lot of people in Dover, she worked for 30 years in the doctors surgery and was always very popular amongst the patients, she is a larger than life character and we just adore her."

Mrs Clarke also has five grandchildren Sophia, 18, Jessica, 15, Anna,15, Isobel 13, and Thomas, 9, and the family have been very supportive.

Mrs Lyons said: “This money is going directly to the Motor Neurone Disease charity to fund essential research into this horrible disease.

“Our beautiful mum, Linda Clarke was diagnosed in April 2016 with Motor Neurone Disease and her decline since last September has been rapid and shocked the whole family.

“Anyone who knows her will understand that her vivacious, slightly mad nature has been attacked and she now struggles with all the things that most of us just take for granted.

“She has been robbed of her love to sing and doing her beloved drama with the Temple Ewell Players.

“We want to simply help in any way we can and raise as much money as possible to help fund research into why this cruel disease strikes people in the way it does and hope for earlier diagnosis to gives families more time with their loved ones.”

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive condition that attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord.

This means messages gradually stop reaching the muscles.

There will be a cake and coffee morning at River Village Hall this Saturday (June 18) from 10am until noon.

On Monday, June 27, there will be a charity yoga session with teacher Charlotte Byrom-Willis from Lotties Yoga at DODS Mill in Temple Ewell at 6pm.

All the proceeds will go to MND.

This will be followed by cake and fizz provided by Mrs Lyons.

For more information or to book a place contact Charlotte 07989380807.

To donate visit the justgiving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Emma-Lyons123