Your support matters: Teesside schools launch MND campaign inspired by Head Teacher
A Motor Neurone Disease awareness day was held across six schools on Friday as part of a campaign inspired by a hugely popular Head Teacher who has been diagnosed with the illness.
Messages and symbols of love are everywhere you look in the little school that’s trying to come to terms with huge sadness.
Orange and blue balloons, ribbons, cakes, posters, drawings, banners, decorations and handprints adorn playground fences, windows, corridors, walls, desks, and classroom doors at Hartburn Primary.
The school and wider Prince Regent Street Trust community is coming together with love, courage, and hope to honour Mrs Park through the creation of Mrs Park’s Park—a lasting tribute to her kindness and the joy she has brought to generations of children. Your support will help turn this heartfelt vision into a vibrant space where children can play, grow, and carry forward the values she has championed throughout her career.
If you are able, please visit the GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/18ec2fbcb to make a donation.
All for Mrs Park
The school, near Stockton, is bursting with the official colours of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, in an emotional demonstration of support for its beloved Head Teacher.
Claire Park, head at the school for the past five years, was diagnosed with MND in June – and the Hartburn pupils, staff and parents want her to know she’s in their hearts.
They’ve been joined by five other schools in Prince Regent Street Trust: Barley Fields Primary; Kader Academy; Oxbridge Lane Primary; Village Primary; and Wolviston Primary.
All the schools are showing their support in different ways, and today is the first in a series of MND awareness days as part of a trust-wide response to Claire’s devastating diagnosis.
The aim is to increase understanding of the disease, raise funds for research, and to build a legacy for someone the pupils describe as “the best and kindest headteacher”.
“If she was here with me now, she would want everyone to know how grateful she is for the support – it’s been overwhelming,” says Claire’s husband, Matthew, who is visiting Hartburn Primary for the awareness day.
As well as raising vital funds for national MND charities, including the MND Association, there’s an appeal by the Friends of Hartburn Primary to raise £50,000 to create a play area at the school that will be known as ‘Mrs Park’s Park’.
Claire, who is in her mid-40s, was finally diagnosed with MND in June after a year of misdiagnoses.
The “living nightmare” began after she fell while dancing during a holiday with friends, in Ibiza, in July 2024.
An ankle injury took time to heal, and she began having balance and gait issues. She had also injured her hand and developed problems with her grip.
Unusually, Claire, normally so resilient, also began to struggle emotionally – a common symptom of MND.
Frustrated with a lack of progress through the NHS, Claire and Matthew arranged a private consultation with a neurologist in London, and she was initially diagnosed with functional neurological disorder.
However, she was also sent for a precautionary MRI scan on her brain and spine, leading to a doctor telephoning after a while to say the results showed “nothing of concern” and that she could pick up a copy of her results from her GP.
To the couple’s horror, the detailed results showed there were signs of ALS, the most common form of MND. The diagnosis was confirmed the following week at James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.
“MND is the cruellest illness,” says Matthew. “All you can say is that today is better than tomorrow because it’s a progressive disease, slowly robbing Claire of everything.
“The average life expectancy from the point of diagnosis is one to two years but it varies. Claire’s a very positive person and we try to make the most of every day, finding joy and making memories.”
For example, Claire, Matthew and their two daughters, Evangeline, 15, and Emilia, 14, have recently returned from a motorhome tour of Europe and have just embarked on a precious holiday to Disneyland, in Florida.
Meanwhile, the schools in the trust are going to great heights to show how much they care.
Mandy Lockwood, a teaching assistant at Hartburn, has volunteered to skydive from 10,000 feet, at Shotton Airfield, to raise funds for Mrs Park’s Park.
“I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone. It’s scary but I keep thinking it’s nothing compared to what Claire’s going through,” says Mandy, apologising for having to wipe away tears.
To help with her fundraising, a colouring competition has been launched. For a minimum donation of £1, the children get to colour a picture of Mandy with a parachute.
Jill Ellison, Chair of the Friends of Hartburn Primary, is leading the fundraising campaign to create Mrs Park’s Park.
“Claire had always wanted to create a friendship area for the children,” she recalls. “We decided to launch the appeal for Mrs Park’s Park on the day she was diagnosed. When we emailed to tell her, she sent a message back, in true Claire style, saying: “That’s a gorgeous idea.”
For Julia Armstrong, CEO of Prince Regent Street Trust, the positive response to Claire’s illness is a justifiable source of pride.
“We are all heartbroken because Claire is an amazing person who has touched a lot of hearts. It’s been a shock and deeply affected us, but it’s so heartwarming to see how staff, parents and pupils have pulled together.”
The MND awareness day has been a difficult lesson for children so young, but it’s clear they understand its importance.
A MESSAGE FROM MRS PARK
With the disease advancing and communication increasingly difficult, Claire was unable to be at the school for the awareness day, but she sent the following message:
As I step into retirement, my heart is full of gratitude for the incredible community that has surrounded me throughout my years in education. Being part of the Hartburn family and our school trust has been one of the greatest privileges of my life; a partnership built on kindness, teamwork, and a shared belief in giving every child the very best start.
Over recent months, I have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support for Motor Neurone Disease fundraising and awareness. Your generosity through donations, events, and messages of encouragement has not only raised vital funds but also shone a powerful light on a cause that means so much to me personally. Thank you for standing with me, for showing such compassion and for turning care into action.
I am especially touched by the creation of ‘Mrs Park’s Park’ at Hartburn Primary School. Knowing that there will be a place where children play, laugh, and learn together and a place that celebrates joy, community and growth. This is the most beautiful legacy I could ever hope for. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone who is making this possible. I would like to extend a very special thank you to the incredibly brave Mrs Lockwood!
As I look to the next chapter, I do so with immense pride and deep gratitude. Thank you for your kindness, your support and for allowing me the honour of being part of this remarkable school family.
With love and appreciation, Mrs. Park
Your support matters—here’s how to help
Now, more than ever, the Hartburn and Prince Regent Street Trust community is uniting with love, courage and hope to honour Mrs Park. The creation of Mrs Park’s Park will stand as a lasting tribute to her kindness and the joy she has brought to generations of children.
Every contribution, no matter the size, will help make this beautiful vision a reality — a place where children can play, grow and remember the values Mrs Park has championed throughout her career.
If you are able, please visit the GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/18ec2fbcb to make a donation, or, for businesses and individuals wishing to offer services or support in kind, please contact Friends of Hartburn Primary Chair, Jill Ellison, or Prince Regent Street Trust CEO, Julia Armstrong.
Together, we can build something truly special in Claire’s honour – a legacy of love, learning and community that will continue to inspire for years to come.
