Ken MacLennan hopes to raise more money this year for MND.
Camera IconKen MacLennan hopes to raise more money this year for MND. Credit: Supplied/Emma Reeves

Disease drives charity event

Claire Ottaviano, Joondalup WeekenderWanneroo Times

The drive was seven years in the making for Mr MacLennan who was inspired by his favourite TV show to fundraise for the neurological condition.

‘My first experience with MNDWA was when a work colleague of mine was diagnosed with it, at which point I had never heard of the disease before,’ he said.

‘Then some years later my friend’s mother all of a sudden was diagnosed with MND ” so I started to learn more about what a shocking disease MND is and wanted to help do something about it.’

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

MND robs patients of their ability to speak, move, eat and ultimately breathe and has no known cause or cure.

‘I am a massive Top Gear fan and was having a few beers watching the show one night and said to my wife ‘why don’t we do something like this for MNDWA’,’ Mr MacLennan said.

About 25 teams will set off from Perth on October 15 and will travel through Fremantle, Narrogin, Pemberton and Albany before arriving in Esperance on October 18.

Last year’s inaugural drive raised $250,000, which Mr MacLennan hopes to beat this year by $50,000.

‘Last year no one involved had ever been part of anything like this before, so it’s been a huge learning curve ” but it’s been incredibly worthwhile,’ he said.

FundraiserWhere: Friends Restaurant, 20 Terrace Road, Perth.When: Friday March 14, 6.45pm.Tickets: Call 9346 7355.Information: www.mndawa.asn.au.