Mark My Words: Your support can change lives
When Neale Daniher AO was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2013, he began living with a disease that slowly takes away the very things many of us take for granted. The ability to speak. To move. To eat. To care for ourselves. It is relentless, isolating and unforgiving, a Beast that takes and takes.
But Neale chose not to give in. Instead, he turned his personal challenge into a mission to help all Australians affected by MND. Alongside Dr Ian Davis and Pat Cunningham, he founded FightMND and began working their vision of a world free from MND.
This year, Neale experienced a moment that reminded him of why the fight matters. Using new technology and recordings from his coaching days, he heard his own voice again. Not the computer-generated kind he’s been relying on, but the one that sounded like him. Felt like him. “It wasn’t perfect, but it was personal. And it meant something,” he says.
While this technology wasn’t specifically developed for people with MND, for some, like Neale, it has become a powerful tool. And while it is not a medical breakthrough, it is a reminder of what research can do with time, funding and belief. “Mark my words, every step forward brings hope and progress closer,” he says.
Living with MND brings daily challenges that can change how people move, speak and connect with the world around them. Everyday tasks like holding a cup, walking or speaking become difficult and independence harder to maintain. That’s why investing in care-focused research is so important. FightMND supports research that explores ways to improve care. This includes research into the ways technology can help deliver better quality care, updated care guidelines, and better access to essential equipment. These projects help Australians living with MND maintain independence, improve quality of life, and give families the support they need every day.
Mark My Words: You Can Make a Difference
This year, Australians have the chance to stand alongside Neale and help fund the next wave of vital MND research. Every dollar raised will help drive progress. Improving how people with MND are supported today, while moving us closer to the breakthroughs of tomorrow.
Neale’s fight is a message of choice. “No matter the odds, no matter the diagnosis, we all have the power to choose to fight, to choose our attitude, to choose to smile, and to choose to do something.”
Every donation accelerates research, funds innovative care and empowers people living with MND. Mark my words: your support can change lives. Stand with Neale and Australians affected by MND. Together, we can keep pushing forward, investing in bold research, supporting families, and changing the future for generations to come.
