MORE than 200 people walked from Westport Park to Town Beach in a show of solidarity and support for those impacted by Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
There were also over 50 pooches who came along with their families – and a few sleepy bubs.
Cathy Boyce’s husband, John, lives with MND. They participated in the walk with their three young sons.
“It’s really hard … a really hard road (being impacted by MND),” she said.
“But something like this, the community support, and hoping one day there might be a cure so other families don’t have to do what we’re doing is awesome.”
John and Cathy have have a big support network around them including friends and family.
“We have an amazing church family that supports us,” she said.
“Even though it’s a terrible journey we are trusting in God that he’s looking after us and he has a plan.”
Jeanine Stewart lost her mother, Winifred, to MND 19 years ago and participates in the walk each year.
“It’s a disease that is on the increase and I hope people in the Hastings are aware,” she said.
“In my mother’s case it started in her lower limbs and the person slowly and progressively becomes paralysed, and eventually die.
“We had very little support at the time my mother died and were unaware of other people in the area who had the disease.
“Even the Motor Neurone Association was in its early stages back then.”
She said to see the community unite for MND was wonderful.
“People who are affected by MND in all sorts of ways desperately need the kind of support that Walk to dFeet MND provides,” she said.
“I think support is the main thing that gets people through the tough times.”