Walk 2’D Feet Motor Neurone Disease this Sunday

16 September 2015

Walk 2’D Feet Motor Neurone Disease to hit the streets of New Zealand this Sunday

Kiwis are being asked to put their best foot forward this Sunday (20 September) for New Zealand’s first nationwide Walk 2 D’Feet Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Walks will take place in six different cities - Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin - to raise awareness and funds for the three hundred odd New Zealanders currently battling the disease.

MND (also known as ALS) is a terminal neurological condition for which there is no effective treatment. It leads to the death of nerve cells - neurones - controlling the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow. With no nerves to activate them, muscles gradually weaken and waste away, causing increasing loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing.

Each walk will be somewhere between 3km to 4km on flat terrain that is wheelchair friendly and walkers are encouraged to bring the whole family along to enjoy festivities such as face painting, games, prizes and a charity auction.

“We rely on the generosity of New Zealanders to fund our work to support people with motor neurone disease and their carers,” says Beth Watson, president of MND Association of New Zealand, the small not for profit organisation that employs fieldworkers around the country who provide information, advocacy and emotional support to people living with MND.

“Half of the funds raised will go to MND NZ to assist with providing our services and the rest will go towards supporting MND research in New Zealand.”

Beth says Walk to 2’D Feet isn’t just about raising awareness and funds.

“Just as importantly, Walk 2 D’Feet is about bringing our community together in a show of strength and support. I’m inspired everyday by people living with MND and it’s important that we stand together and recognise people’s determination and spirit in the face of this cruel disease.”

Join us on Sunday 20 September

For information on locations and to register for your local event, visit www.walk2dfeetmnd.co.nz

You can register online up until 5pm Friday 18th September or you can register on the day from 9am. The walks will get underway at 10.30am after welcoming speeches.

Follow our Facebook page to keep up to date with information on the fabulous prizes that will be up for auction www.facebook.com/Walk2DFeetMNDNZ

For more information about MND, please visit www.mnda.org.nz

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