A CHELSEA man living with motor neurone disease is calling on people to get involved with a fundraising effort this month.
Jeff Brown was diagnosed with MND nearly two years ago. “Every day, it’s getting harder to speak. My normal ways of communicating are starting to falter. People I don’t see every day are having trouble understanding me,” he said. “MND may be taking my speech, but it will never take away my voice.”
Brown has called for people to take part in the Shut Up! For MND Challenge this year. The MND Victoria initiative asks people to remain quiet for up to 12 hours to raise money and awareness for MND.
The challenge takes place on 22 September. “MND sucks, plain and simple – but I’m so grateful to have MND Victoria providing me with all the care and support I need to live each day to the fullest. That’s only possible because of initiatives like Shut Up! For MND,” Brown said.
The inaugural Shut Up! For MND Challenge raised over $113,000 to go towards care and support for people living with MND. MND Victoria CEO Kate Johnson says that the initiative is a “unique and bold way to ensure Jeff and every other Victorian currently living with MND still have a voice.”
“To do that, they need access to the right information and support, as well as the right pieces of equipment to ensure that they can remain safe, independent, mobile and connected with their community,” she said. “That’s why MND Victoria’s services, including support coordination, support groups, education seminars and access to vital assistive equipment, are provided at no cost to the person with MND.”
On average, two Australians are diagnosed with MND each day and two people die of it.
To take part in the challenge visit shutupformnd.org.au
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 7 September 2022