In February last year, my longstanding friend and colleague, Tim Fillingham, hosted an extraordinary dinner in aid of CMND. It was a testament to his popularity that so many came to support, not only CMND, but also Tim himself and helped to make it the biggest single fundraising event in the charity’s history.

A couple of years earlier, Tim had been diagnosed with MND. He took it on the chin and determined to live his life as he always had. Around eighteen months later the disease began to take its toll and, during mid to late 2022, Tim realised that he needed help. In his search for the support he needed he came across Challenging MND. He liked their approach to the disease, in particular, he liked the idea of taking on a challenge. He realised that he himself might be able to raise greater awareness of the disease and to raise funds to support fellow sufferers. Regrettably, he had to acknowledge that he was no longer capable of taking on the type of physical challenges, exemplified by the charity’s founder, Alex Gibson but fortunately, in discussion with Liane Iles, CMND’s CEO, the idea of a dinner was mooted and Tim realised this was something he actually might be able to do.

Typical of Tim, he threw himself into the project with everything he could muster. It kept him fully occupied for several months and gave him a great deal of pleasure, particularly the realisation that so many of his friends and colleagues were keen to support him in any way they could. CMND were amazed at Tim’s positivity and the sheer energy he devoted to putting the dinner together. The event itself exceeded everyone’s expectations, including Tim’s, with 250 people attending and record sums of money raised for CMND. Tim loved it.

Sadly, Tim’s condition deteriorated rapidly after the dinner and, much though he wanted to do something else for CMND, he found he was simply no longer sufficiently capable. In conversation with CMND at the time it was agreed there was something we could do that would let Tim do one more thing so we told him we would repeat the dinner in 2024, in his name. It was the least we could do and it gave him some pleasure in his few remaining days. So here we are….

Please join us for Tim's Dinner on Thursday 24th October 2024 at M Restuarant, 60 Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8HP

18:30       Welcome Drinks
19:30       Welcome from guest speaker and a speech from CEO Liane Iles
20:00       Guests to be seated for a 3 Course Dinner served with wine
21:30       Live Auction 
23:00       Finish