I had been nominated to do the Ice Bucket Challenge and was chicken at first so decided to get involved with it by making a donation, but I was a little stunned by what I discovered when I looked into it. ALS (known as Lou Gehrig's Disease in the U.S.) is actually called something completely different here in Australia... We've all heard of MND (Motor Neurone Disease) right?
I felt a little ignorant as I had never looked into it enough or seeked awareness to know the lack of difference between the two, but once I learned that they are one in the same, I was even more drawn to the cause as MND actually runs in my family. So, I am taking the Ice Bucket Challenge myself, and we here at LMA are also going to donate $200 to MND Australia.
I will also take the time now to tell you who I am going to nominate to also do the challenge AND donate any extra cash they have...
MICHELLE HAYNES from FOWLERS LIVE
RYAN WINTER from THE GOV
RODNEY MAGAZINOVIC from MIX.1023
CHRIS MARIC from MARIC MEDIA
JANINE MORCOS from SOUNDWAVE TOURING
You each have 48 hours to complete the MND Ice Bucket Challenge, and nominate three 'victims' of your own... Muahahahahaha!
If anyone else wants to get involved, challenge your friends, make a donation or even just get some info, check out the MND Australia website here.
Thanks for paying attention!
Melissa Donato
Live Music Adelaide Editor.
Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name given to a group of diseases in which the nerve cells (neurones) controlling the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow undergo degeneration and die.
Motor function is controlled by the upper motor neurones in the brain that descend to the spinal cord; these neurones activate lower motor neurones. The lower motor neurones exit the spinal cord and directly activate muscles. With no nerves to activate them, muscles gradually weaken and waste. MND can affect a person’s ability to walk, speak, swallow and breathe.
MND is a progressive, terminal neurological disease
There is no known cure and no effective treatment for MND
Each day in Australia two people die from MND
Each day in Australia two people are diagnosed with MND
People with MND progressively lose the use of their limbs and ability to speak, swallow and breathe, whilst their mind and senses usually remain intact
Average life expectancy is 27 months
An estimated 1,900 people have MND in Australia
For every person diagnosed with MND it is estimated that a further 14 members of their family and their friends will live with the effect of MND forever