MND is the name given to a group of diseases which impact the nerves known as motor neurons. Motor neurons are found in the brain and spinal cord. They send messages to activate the muscles in the body. With MND, messages from the motor neurons gradually stop reaching the muscles. This causes the muscles to weaken and, eventually, stop working. With more than 270,000 people estimated to be living with MND globally, many of us know someone who has been impacted directly or indirectly by this condition.

In addition to our shiploader ‘glow up’ throughout August, Port Waratah will be undertaking FightMND Big Freeze fundraising including ice bucket challenges, across August.

Acting Port Waratah CEO Trudie Larnach said she was expecting to see employees get involved and ‘get the bucket’ and she has committed to the FightMND Big Freeze Challenge herself.

“Several members of our team know someone who has been touched by MND, so we have been very keen to include this initiative in our Community Investment and Partnership Programme this year to enable the whole team at Port Waratah to come together and show their support,” said Ms Larnach. 

“Stay tuned for more on our social media channels later this month. There may well be footage of myself along with several colleagues ‘getting the bucket’!”

 Proceeds from the fundraising activity hosted by Port Waratah will go to FightMND. Established in 2014 by Neale Daniher AO, Pat Cunningham and the late Dr Ian Davis OAM, FightMND is a founder led organisation with a vision of a world free from motor neurone disease (MND). FightMND works to raise awareness and fund vital research to improve the quality of life and find treatments and, one day, a cure for those living with MND.

Since 2014, FightMND has invested more than $117 million into MND research and care projects supporting Australian’s living with MND. This includes 15 clinical trials for Australian patients and 34 drug development projects.

The Port Waratah Community Investment and Partnership Programme invests $850,000 each year to support impactful projects and services within our community. To find out more about our community partnerships, visit pwcs.com.au/our-partners.

Port Waratah also has a proven track record in raising awareness for our community partners through our Shiploader illumination projects; this will be our eighth year supporting charities and community organisations through the initiative. Additional information on FightMND, its research, services and fundraising initiatives can be found on their website: fightmnd.org.au. Interested parties can make a contribution to the Port Waratah Big Freeze Team via the FightMND website by visiting https://support.fightmnd.org.au/fundraisers/portwaratahbigfreezeteam.