Tag: Dell Technologies

Hearts fan shares MND diagnosis

Lifelong Heart of Midlothian supporter, Stevie Morris, is speaking out about his diagnosis of motor neurone disease (MND) to raise awareness, in support of the Club’s partnership with MND Scotland. 

Thanks to an innovative sponsorship deal with Dell Technologies, MND Scotland’s logo is taking pride of place on the front of the Hearts home kit for the 2021/22 season. To help raise more awareness, Stevie, from Mid Calder, is sharing his experience of living with MND and what the partnership means to him and his family.

Before being diagnosed with MND, the Tynecastle Park season ticket holder used to love playing sport, including football, walking football and golf multiple times a week. 

He said: “I used to live a very active life before my diagnosis, and it has been really tough having my ability to play sport gradually fade away to the point where I just can’t do it anymore.

“I’m someone who likes to take care of their garden, but this past gardening season I was even starting to find mowing the lawn to be too much.”

Stevie, who is married to Mary (61) and dad to Craig (37), used to attend every Hearts game, both home and away, but due to his worsening condition, is sadly unable to travel to watch away games anymore. 

“Hearts has always been a huge part of my life. It’s really important to me and I used to love travelling to the games on the Livingston Hearts supporter’s bus, but I can’t do that now. The walk to the ground from the bus is just too far. Even going to home games, I have to get dropped off right at the entrance and am in the process of moving my season ticket seat, so I don’t have to walk as far.

“Right now, I am still able to get down to the pub on a Sunday to watch other TV games, something I’m still really glad I can do.”

Stevie first suspected something was wrong during a round of golf, when he experienced a freezing cold sensation in his foot, something which seemed even more unusual given the warm weather on the day. 

He said: “From visiting my doctor to being diagnosed took around nine months in total. There was a lot of testing involved and other things that had to be ruled out. At first, I thought it might have been a trapped nerve but sadly it was more serious than that.”

Stevie was diagnosed with MND in February 2021 and less than a year on is having difficulty getting up and down stairs, as well as relying on a breathing machine at night. 

“Being diagnosed with MND was devastating obviously. It just floored us and the whole family went through a period of complete disbelief. Although I found it very difficult to tell my family and friends, the hardest part was definitely having to tell my dad.

“For the past three games, I’ve taken my dad for hospitality at Hearts, which has been an amazing experience for us both and something very special we could do together.” 

Stevie and his son Craig are extremely happy about the partnership between Hearts and MND Scotland and have both got the strip with the charity logo. 

He continued: “MND is a horrible disease. For my team to be involved in such a positive and direct way is tremendous. I hope the money raised from the partnership will allow MND Scotland to continue helping people in my situation. The support and services they provided me with really helped to take a load off my family – they are magnificent. 

“I hope the message gets through that MND can affect anyone. I’m a fan, who is there every week. I’m your midweek, go to Inverness or Ross County fan. I’m a fan that will have a sing a long on the supporter’s bus, and a beer before and after the match. Hearts are my team. My wish is that no one else misses out on future games because of MND.” 

MND Scotland’s Head of Fundraising, Iain McWhirter, said: “Our partnership with Hearts has been amazing so far, and both the club and its supporters have played an enormous role in our effort to raise vital awareness and funding, to help change the lives of people living with MND today.

“I want to thank Stevie for bravely speaking out about his story and sharing his experience with us.”

To help people like Stevie, and to join MND Scotland’s search for a cure, please donate today.

Hearts unveil MND Scotland as new shirt front partner

MND Scotland will be proudly worn on the front of Hearts’ home shirt for season 2021/22 as part of an innovative two-year sponsorship deal with Dell Technologies.

Following its groundbreaking partnership with Save the Children that saw the charity’s name being sported on the first team shirts over 6 seasons, the Club will now be promoting and supporting the work of MND Scotland in Season 21-22.

The Club and its supporters have undertaken several fundraising activities on behalf of the charity over the past year as a tribute to Club legend and former captain, Marius Zaliukas, who tragically lost his fight to the disease in 2020.

This landmark sponsorship deal will help to raise awareness of the work undertaken by MND charities throughout the UK and support those living with MND in Scotland. Funds raised will also enable pioneering research into MND, such as the projects taking place at the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research at University of Edinburgh.

Once again, the Club has sought out an innovative way of securing sponsorship funding whilst providing a platform for a cause that is dear to supporters’ hearts.

In a pioneering approach, Dell Technologies will work with Hearts over the next 2 years on a programme that will transform the Club’s digital estate in the long term. As part of this new partnership, Dell Technologies funded the front of the home shirt on behalf of MND Scotland. Hearts will, in turn, make a contribution to MND Scotland and MND Association for every home shirt sold in the season ahead.

Dell Technologies was a founding partner of the Heart of Midlothian Innovation Centre in 2019, providing equipment that has enabled over 700 young people to benefit from free Digital Education. The company’s commitment to diversity and equal opportunity was also echoed in the decision to become principal partner and shirt sleeve sponsor of Hearts Women in 2020.

Dell Technologies will also appear on the back of the men’s home shirt when the new season starts.

Commenting on the new partnership, CEO of Hearts, Andrew McKinlay said: “We are delighted to announce this amazing partnership with Dell Technologies and MND Scotland. 

“Dell Technologies has been pivotal in supporting pioneering community initiatives run by the Club and our charity, Big Hearts.  As a principal partner of Hearts Women, they also helped to fund the initiative to sport the name of Scotland Women in Technology on the women’s shirts. This announcement represents a significant deepening of the relationship between the company and Hearts. 

“We have spent the last 4 years enhancing the physical infrastructure of the Club providing some of the most modern facilities in Scottish football. Our sponsorship deal with Dell Technologies will underpin a long-term transformation of the logical infrastructure, modernising our systems and enhancing the experience we provide for supporters. 

“Ann Park, Hearts’ Director of Partnerships and Community, has been working over the past few months to develop what is one of the most innovative sponsorship deals in football. Ann was the driving force behind our six-year relationship with Save the Children and has once again delivered a partnership of which we can all be very proud.

“We dedicate this initiative to our former captain Marius Zaliukas and to Robert Wilson, whose work behind the scenes and on the board of the Club helped rescue Hearts from administration.”

Iain McWhirter, MND Scotland’s Interim Chief Executive, said: “We are very excited to be partnering with Heart of Midlothian FC this season. This fantastic opportunity will honour the memory of former captain Marius Žaliūkas who passed away last year after a brave struggle against motor neurone disease.

“Dell Technologies has supported our sister charity, MND Association of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, for 2 years, and we are thrilled to now be working with them to raise funds and awareness here in Scotland. 

“We hope this boost will enable us to speak to even more people about our cause, and that the funds donated through sales will help us reach our ultimate goal of finding a cure. Until that day we will continue supporting families affected by MND in Scotland, so they do not have to go through the devastation alone.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing the new strips out on the pitch very soon and hope fans will join our movement to end MND.”