Published by Naima Chakkour
26 November 2024
Hardback | £12.99 | 9781399990882
In 1993, Naima Chakkour – a mother of four young children – was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) and given less than five years to live. Since, Naima has defied the odds to become one of the world’s longest ever survivors of this terrible disease. Undeterred tells her remarkable story – it is an uniquely powerful reflection on family, friendship, endurance, resilience, loss, grief, hope and love.
Naima was in her thirties when she began losing strength in her hands. Doctors were baffled but not alarmed and her test results came back normal. But then came a day when she found herself unable to tie her young son’s shoelaces.
Abandoned by her husband in the wake of her diagnosis, Naima might have found herself raising her family alone, but she had her two brothers and an extraordinary support network.
Now a grandmother of four, Naima is one of the longest-surviving patients with MND in the world.
Undeterred tells her unique and extraordinary story, shining a light on this horrific disease, but also bringing hope and strength to those who find themselves in the darkest of places – inspiring and energising everyone to treasure every moment of our lives.
“I have lived every day since my diagnosis wondering if it might be my last, but my focus has always been on how to live with MND, not how to die from it. The ‘1000-day disease’ impacts over 1000 people a year in the UK, forcing families to watch their loved ones battle with one of the cruelest diseases on earth. Now, as I look towards the end, I’ve written Undeterred to not only share my diagnosis-defying story, but to raise awareness of MDN and urge the world to accelerate research to help those suffering now, and in the future.” Naima Chakkour
Whilst Naima has lived a life on the edge of death, she has never allowed herself to be defined by MND and is now ready to share her incredible story with the world.
All proceeds from Undeterred will go to ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’, a charity committed to funding research to find effective treatments to motor neuron disease.
About Naima Chakkour: Naima Chakkour was born near Tangier in Morocco before moving to London where she began to raise her family. In her thirties she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and told she would survive no more than five years. More than thirty years on from that day, Naima is one of the longest survivors of the disease. Naima spends her days between homes in London and Tangier surrounded by her family including her four children and grandchildren
About Motor Neurone Disease: Motor neurone disease (MND) damages and attacks the nerves, meaning that messages being sent from the brain to the muscles no longer work. MND affects people from all walks of life and in different ways. Approximately 1,100 people are diagnosed with MND every year in the UK. Up to 5,000 adults in the UK are affected at any one time. MND can lead to weakness in the muscles and eventually paralysis. Although it does not usually affect the senses. Unfortunately, 1/3 of people succumb to MND within a year and more than 1/2 within two years of diagnosis. For more information visit: www.myname5doddie.co.uk
For further information, to request a copy or interview, please contact MIDAS:
Tom Neilson | tom.neilson@midaspr.co.uk | +44 (0)78053 05344
Hannah McMillan | hannah.mcmillan@midaspr.co.uk | +44 (0)7971 086649
