Trek for MND: a pre-honeymoon adventure with purpose

Rebecca Sanders and her mum, Michelle Williamson, are best friends. Often together for shopping, crafting, or a cheeky cocktail they’re each other’s first phone call for good news, bad news, or just to have a natter.  

When Michelle was diagnosed with fast-progressing motor neurone disease (MND) in June 2025, Rebecca and her fiancé John made a life-changing decision. Fearing Michelle might not be able to fully participate in their wedding if they waited, they brought their wedding date forward. Five months later, in November 2025, they were married.

“She's always just let me be me, she's just an amazing woman, the glue of our family,” says Rebecca fondly.  “It would have been very, very hard to go wedding dress shopping without her and plan all the details, we are very lucky we got to do that. It was the most magical day, it meant so much to all of us.”

Trek for MND: the why!

With Michelle now living with end-stage MND, and unable to move independently or talk without technology, the couple’s European honeymoon dreams are on hold. Rebecca is a committed fundraiser for health-related causes that support her mum – including breast cancer endured during Rebecca’s teenage years. Now she is tackling the 55km Trek for MND this October as a ‘pre-honeymoon adventure’ alongside John.

“It makes me feel good to do something that's a fun event, and has meaning and purpose,” explains Rebecca. “I've done the MND Ice Bucket Challenge’, we did the Cuppa Tea for MND and the Walk to Defeat MND in 2025. Then we saw this trek is coming up and it sounds so good. We've always wanted to do a multi-day hike adventure.”

The last couple of years have been tough for the Williamson/Sanders whānau, including Michelle’s husband Daren and son Ben. Rebecca admits she hasn’t been looking after her own wellbeing very well. “This is something I've always wanted to do, it's for a good cause and it gives me a good kick up the bum to get my health and fitness in a better place.”

The family celebrated Michelle’s 58^th birthday on 13 August 2026, with Bentley the dog and the latest addition to her cherished giraffe collection (pictured below), a gift from Ben. They are hoping she will be with them to celebrate Rebecca’s birthday in September, but the future is very uncertain and they treasure each day they have with her.

Trek for MND: the fundraising mission

Rebecca, Michelle, Daren, John together with their friends and family have worked hard to fundraise for Motor Neurone Disease NZ throughout Michelle’s MND journey. The couple’s current fundraising total, just for this trek, is sitting at nearly $2,500, with more than $1,200 of those proceeds coming from a recent garage sale.

To spread awareness, they have created flyers and posters that tell their story and are displayed in various shops and cafes, with QR codes linking directly to their fundraising page. Rebecca has also received strong support from her large network of supportive colleagues from her several years working at Auckland Council.

For John, fundraising is about helping to increase awareness of this disease he knew little about until Michelle’s diagnosis. For Rebecca, it’s also about the importance of the support and advocacy that are part of the MND NZ mahi. “I know mum’s MND NZ Support Advisor Rachel Woodworth supports so many people throughout the Auckland region,” says Rebecca.  

Devastating equipment delays

She believes more MND NZ support advisors are needed so they have more time to help people living with MND to navigate what can be lengthy delays in accessing vital equipment and services from various agencies. For those living with a rapidly progressing disease, those delays can be devastating.

Rebecca points to examples including orthopaedic shoes that took months to arrive, a faulty eye-gaze communication tablet that took a month to repair, and mobility equipment such as braces, walkers and wheelchairs arriving after Michelle’s needs had changed.   

“Rachel's been helpful understanding those different moving parts and helping coordinate things,” explains Rebecca. “It might not seem like a long time to us, but when somebody has such a constrained timeline on their life, that might be all the time they have left,”

Michelle’s MND: the road to diagnosis

Michelle’s symptoms began about two years ago with weakness and shaking in one leg.

“At first we thought maybe it was just a pinched nerve or something, and she was going to all these doctors, and they couldn't figure out what was going on,” recalls Rebecca.  As her symptoms progressed, Michelle began using a crutch for support. “You keep hoping it’s something that can be fixed.”

After initially being diagnosed with ‘spasticity’, then the slower-progressing primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) in late 2024, Michelle received a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common and aggressive form of MND, in June 2025.

Michelle had attended Rebecca and John’s engagement party, in November 2024, in a wheelchair with a broken ankle from a fall, possibly due to MND. Because they believed she was living with the slower-progressing PLS, the family expected she would recover well from the injury.

Instead, her condition continued to deteriorate. A second opinion from another neurologist ultimately confirmed the ALS diagnosis. “We were all very upset, but mum just took it on the chin and has made the most of the rest of her time.”

Despite declining health, Michelle has continued making memories with loved ones. Last year, her brother travelled from the Netherlands to visit, and the family enjoyed simple day trips that weren’t too draining on her declining energy, including Hamilton Botanical Gardens, the zoo or picnics by the Waikato River.

Reflections for newly diagnosed

When asked what she’d say to those who are just starting out living with MND, Rebecca is honest. 

“Things are going to change, sometimes, very quickly, and it's going to suck. It really, really sucks,” she says with a gentle laugh.

“But, you know, it’s important to stay positive. There’s nothing you can really do about it so once you accept that you think ‘Well I can just be there. I can make the most of things and I can help bring positive vibes’.” 

Rebecca’s ode to Michelle

Written and recited for their 2025 Cuppa Tea for MND event

What do I feel?
What should I do?
There’s one thing on my mind,
I’m worried about you.

My best friend, my rock,
A mum like no other,
My favourite soul on the planet,
So much more than my mother.

It started with shakes,
As the weakness settled in,
Worsened by a fall,
Began a fight you’ll never win.

What can I do?
When it feels like you’re wilting,
When the world around me,
Is twisting and tilting.

I would take your place,
If it gave you the world,
To wrap my arms around,
Your inner little girl.

But you’re a resilient warrior,
Determined and tough,
Digging into your grit,
When the times get rough.

So, keep moving forward,
With your hand in mine,
One foot in front of the other,
One step at a time.

Your legs may wobble,
But I’m standing strong,
I’ll be your crutch,
For the path that goes on.

To my closest confidante,
I’m always an ear,
So lean on me anytime,
To dispel your fear.

I’m your biggest supporter,
Through and through,
For one thing I can never imagine,
My life without you.

The MND NZ Team is incredibly grateful to Rebecca and John for their ongoing fundraising. Their efforts help support people living with MND and their whānau, while also contributing to vital research and advocacy work. MND NZ relies on the support of trusts, foundations, donors and community fundraisers to fund this mahi.

You can support Rebecca and John’s Trek for MND fundraising mission here.