Receiving a motor neurone disease (MND) diagnosis can be a challenging and emotional experience for families. At just 13 years old, Mia Peters captured her experience with MND through a deeply moving piece of writing. Her mother shared, “With my daughter’s permission, I wanted to share a story Mia wrote last year for the … Read more
We’re excited to announce the 2025 Walk to Defeat MND will take place on Saturday, 22 February! Join us in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch for a day of solidarity and support: Further details will be published soon. Community WalksCan’t make it to an official location? You can organise your own community walk! Whether you’re personally … Read more
This Thursday, 24th October, the Devonport community is hosting a special film screening at The Vic to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease NZ, honouring the memory of Ronnie Harris, who passed away from MND nearly a year ago. Organised by his friends, family, and local supporters, the night will feature one of Ronnie’s favourite … Read more
In August, Dr Natalie Gauld, MND NZ’s Research Advisor travelled to Melbourne to attend the Australia and New Zealand MND Research Symposium. Here, she shares her insights and highlights from the conference. The Australia and New Zealand MND Research Symposium was a two-day jam-packed series of presentations by clever people working hard to find the … Read more
October is International AAC Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), celebrate people who use AAC to communicate, and share the latest tools and technologies in AAC. What is AAC? AAC encompasses a wide range of communication tools and systems that people use to express their thoughts, needs, wants, and … Read more
Meet Karuna, an inspiration with a ready smile showing us that #nothingisordinary. Despite the rapid progression of motor neurone disease, Karuna’s grace, humour, and positivity shine through. Supported by his loving children, Dee and Kriv, Karuna continues to embrace life with the help of remarkable technology like his iPad, which allows him to stay connected … Read more
On Saturday 21 September our friends at North Otago Rugby Football Union (NORFU) hosted a special day of rugby at Weston Sports Ground to raise awareness and vital funds for MND. The day kicked off with a North Otago v Mid Canterbury match, with the NORFU team running out in special charity branded one-off jerseys, … Read more
You’re invited to attend the new MND Support Group for the Auckland region, taking place at 12.30pm on Wednesday 2 October at the MND national office, 14 Erson Avenue, Royal Oak. “The support group gathering is the result of several clients saying ‘It would be really good to have a support group’,” says Rachel Woodworth, … Read more
Caring for a loved one who is dying can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re untrained and facing the unknown. To help carers navigate this difficult journey, Otago Community Hospice has launched a new podcast series, Ending Life Well, now available on all major podcast platforms. This first-of-its-kind series in New Zealand is designed specifically to … Read more
Ronnie Harris was diagnosed with MND in July 2022, whilst visiting his beloved birthplace, Scotland. It was of course, a devastating blow to Ronnie and Jane, but the way in which they both dealt with the diagnosis and continued to make the very best of the time left together, was an inspiration to all. Ronnie’s … Read more
Jodi Clouston lost her Mum to MND in 2011, a heart-wrenching experience that has driven her to make a difference in the lives of people affected by this devastating condition. In 2023, Jodi had the opportunity to run the New York Marathon as a member of Team ALS, the official charity partner for MND in … Read more
We are delighted to share that Dr Maize Cao has received a Neurological Foundation grant to study ALS. Dr Cao, an early career Research fellow at the University of Auckland, says: “what makes development of therapies difficult, is that there are many genes that can cause disease (‘suspects’ of ALS). Beyond that, at the molecular … Read more