MND Awareness
MND awareness leads to a greater understanding of MND in the wider community, which in turn helps to increase levels of support, funding, and research, to benefit those living with MND.
Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month
Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month (June) is an annual opportunity to encourage more people to join our team in the fight against MND and its impacts. Global ALS/MND Awareness Day falls on 21st June every year and is a focal point of the month for us to unite globally in our efforts to support people living with MND.
Read about our previous awareness campaigns below. To receive communications regarding future awareness campaigns, subscribe to our mailing list below.
Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month - June 2021
David's Unusables
David’s unusable items are being sold to help raise funds for those living with motor neurone disease. All proceeds will help pay for the vital support those living with MND need to maintain a quality of life, and research to learn what we can about this cruel and debilitating disease. The items are used, but are all in working order. 100% of the proceeds go to MND New Zealand.
Cuppa Tea for MND
More than 30 Cuppa Tea for MND events were held across New Zealand during June, to mark Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month. These events highlighted the impact of MND to hundreds of Kiwis and raised $16,000 to support people living with MND.
MND Ice Bucket Challenge
Several businesses took part in the MND Ice Bucket Challenge, selecting members of their team to receive an icy drenching and raising funds. Participants included Colliers Highbrook, Bluff Country Contractors, Active VMA, Barfoot & Thompson, and the team at Fulton Hogan Auckland Airport.
Active VMA and Bluff Country Contractors continued to surpass and increase their fundraising goals throughout the month and raised $7.5k and $8k by the end of the month.
Colliers Highbrook inspired support from far and wide, across their organisation, from stakeholders, family, and friends. They smashed their goal, raising an astounding $200k! Watch the video of their challenge here.
MND Awareness Month - June 2020
It Takes a Team
The campaign theme for Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Month 2020, ‘It takes a team’, recognised the drastic impact an MND diagnosis has, not only on the person living with MND but also on their family, whānau, and friends. ‘It Takes a Team’ recognises the support people living with MND offer to each other, alongside the support offered by MND New Zealand, health professionals, researchers, fundraisers, volunteers, and supporters. It takes a team to live with MND.
Throughout June, members of the team shared their personal stories and experiences, raising awareness of motor neurone disease and its impact.
With social distancing still a concern in an Alert Level 1 COVID-19 climate, MND New Zealand encouraged people to take part in a virtual Cuppa Tea for MND and a held a month-long national Virtual Street Appeal to raise vital funds. We had over 200 new allies join our team throughout the month, and our supporters fundraised and donated over $7,000 through Cuppa Tea for MND and the Virtual Street Appeal! We are very grateful to everyone who got involved.
MND Awareness Week 2019 – June 17 to 23
Emirates Team New Zealand launched their support by announcing MND New Zealand as their official Charity Partner for the 36th Americas Cup. Gaining exposure on Seven Sharp.
Over 30 Cuppa Tea for MND events were held, raising $24,000. We hosted “An Update on MND Research – Homegrown and Abroad”, with speakers including Dr Claire Reilly, Professor Chris Shaw, Dr Emma Scotter and Kerry Walker.
MND Awareness Month 2018
Over 45 morning and afternoon teas were held across the country, raising $27,000. We also attracted media coverage of research published by the Centre for Brain Research, which showed New Zealanders have the highest known rate of MND in the world. We also shared insights from Graeme Smith, Kirsty Gerlach, and Greg Horton, into their lives with an MND diagnosis.