International MND Awareness Day was recognised in Sorrento, Friday 21 June, with the launch of the Mornington Peninsula MND Association started by Torie Schwarze in memory of her late father Marty Mackinnon.
Ms Schwarze and Rob Tucker organised the three-hour lunch at Mr Morce restaurant, with all money raised going to support those living with, or caring for, a motor neurone sufferer.
Ms Schwarze and GP Adrian Murrie gave presentations on their experiences of caring for an MND sufferer.
Sponsors included Mercedes Benz Mornington, Volvo Cars Melbourne, Wooden Boat Shop and artist Jos Law. They all donated items to be auctioned by Peninsula Sotheby’s agent Rob Curtin, along with peninsula fine food suppliers donating all food served.
Money raised will help buy a powered wheelchair, two manual wheelchairs, electric riser chair and hoist. These daily use items are urgently needed to assist MND sufferers to continue living safely at home.
MND Victoria supplies equipment free of charge on a loan arrangement for those living with MND. Ms Schwarze and Mr Tucker plan to hold another event in November.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 2 July 2019
