J. K. Rowling Donates 10 Million Pounds for MS Research at University of Edinburgh
J.K. Rowling
Posted by: Edward
August 31, 2010, 08:28 AM
The BBC is reporting this morning that Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling has given a donation of 10 million pounds to the University of Edinburgh to fund a research clinic studying MS (Multiple sclerosis). The new research clinic will be named the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, after the author's mother who suffered from the decease and passed away at age 45. The BBC goes on to note that the clinic will also focus their efforts "on other degenerative neurological conditions, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Motor Neurone Disease." Ms Rowling is quoted as saying in regards to the donation:
"I cannot think of anything more important, or of more lasting value, than to help the university attract world-class minds in the field of neuroregeneration, to build on its long and illustrious history of medical research and, ultimately, to seek a cure for a very Scottish disease.
"I have just turned 45, the age at which my mother, Anne, died of complications related to her MS.
"I know that she would rather have had her name on this clinic than on any statue, flower garden or commemorative plaque, so this donation is on her behalf, too; and in gratitude for everything she gave me in her far-too-short life."
A second article on SkyNews
reports that '[t]he Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic will be based in a purpose-built facility within the University's Chancellor's Building, next to the city's Royal Infirmary at Little France. University officials said the development will build on Edinburgh's "strong track records" in patient-focused clinical research on neurological disorders and in imaging of the brain and nervous system. It follows the setting up of the Centre for Multiple Sclerosis Research at the university three years ago, which also received support from the author."
More information about the Centre for MS Research at the University of Edinburgh can be found
via this link.
Many thanks, Erna!
9292 Points
What a wonderful thing to do with the money that she has made! And what a pity that her mother did not live long enough to have an inkling of how much joy her daughter would go on to create in the world through her writing. Forty-five is much too young to die. So many valuable lives have been cut short by this terrible wasting disease, including a lot of talented artists like the brilliant young cellist Jacqueline Du Pré. Wouldn’t it be amazing if this new research facility in Edinburgh turns out to be the one that finally comes up with the key to a cure? The Church of England might just have to nominate JKR for sainthood for that, or at least beatification! Whoops, there goes her last shred of privacy…
189 Points
What an extremely generous donation Jo has gifted to this centre. Suffering from neurological disorders must be awful and frustrating, so hopefully this centre will come up with ways to improve the lives of sufferers and eventually, one day, find a cure.
307 Points
wow, when her mum passed away she was suffering from depression and living off welfare, she never told Anne she had taken up writing, would her mum ever have guessed that one day she would have a research center with her name on it!!!?!!
4208 Points
This is a horrible disease. Thanks so much Jo, for your gift from the heart, I had a friend who had MS and died from it recently. It affects balance, the ability to move around on your own, damages nerves so your feet and legs are just like lumps of stone. I hope and pray that this disease will oe day be curable or at least manageable. It is a Scottish disease but affects many people all over the world too.
What a wonderful thing to do with the money that she has made! And what a pity that her mother did not live long enough to have an inkling of how much joy her daughter would go on to create in the world through her writing. Forty-five is much too young to die. So many valuable lives have been cut short by this terrible wasting disease, including a lot of talented artists like the brilliant young cellist Jacqueline Du Pré. Wouldn’t it be amazing if this new research facility in Edinburgh turns out to be the one that finally comes up with the key to a cure? The Church of England might just have to nominate JKR for sainthood for that, or at least beatification! Whoops, there goes her last shred of privacy…