Sutton nurse Laura raising money for precious family memories after MND diagnosis
A district nurse from Sutton who has spent her life caring for others is now raising money to help her spend time with those she cares most about.
Laura Fitt, aged 40, lives in Sutton and has been a district nurse in Hucknall for the past three years but has nursing since 2012 when she qualified and has worked in healthcare since she was 18.
She was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) at the start of July, having been suffering symptoms since August 2025.
Since then, a lot of her friends contacted her about fundraising to provide financial security for her family as well as create some lasting memories of them together and raising awareness of MND, something that has been in the public conciousness in recent years, not least through the sad deaths of rugby stars Doddie Weir and Rob Burrow from the condition and the fundraising efforts of Burrow’s former team-mate Kevin Sinfield that have raised the profile of MND awareness.
Laura and her work collegues have organised a 10-mile walk around Ladybower on September 5 and several local businesses, including local pubs, hairdressers, barbers, independent shops and Tesco have all have donated prizes to a fundraising raffle appeal.
Hucknall care home Harrier House is hosting an event that will include a name the bear tombola and Sherwood Fisheries in Mansfeld Woodhouse is hosting a fundraising fishing match and family fun day in the near future when a date can be confirmed.
Zoe McGregor, Laura’s friend and fellow nurse, who is one of the fundraising organisers, said: “Laura is so well known, she’s done a lot in Hucknall and seen and helped so many patients over the years and they all want to help her now.”
Laura added: “It’s very disheartening that I’m having to give up the career that I have worked so hard for but it seems to me that MND is being diagnosed much earlier and in younger people these days than it used to be, which is one of the reasons I want to raise more awareness of it so the Government can hopefully put more money into finding a better cure for it."
Being able to spend precious time with her family – husband John and children Ellis, 19, Gabriella, 16, Alex, 15 and Harmony, 14, is also another reason for the fundraising and the thought of not being there for them one day is emotional for Laura.
She said: “I’m so overwhelmed and so grateful to everybody, the businesses who have donated, some I might have met and looked after a faily member, but to others I’ll be a complete stranger, so for them to be donating is really lovely and I really appreciate what everyone is doing.”
Haley Corbally, another friend and fellow nurse, said: “This is why this fundraising is so important, not just to raise awareness, but also so Laura can make some memories and have the means to be able to do that.”
To donate to Laura’s fund, visit gofundme.com/f/creating-memories-supporting-my-family-through-mnd