Firefighters walking for a cause

Helping raise awareness of motor neurone disease, from left, Belinda Cadzow, Justin Storey, Jeremy Dodge, Dan Nesbit, Chris Kennedy, Angela Pomana. Absent Doyle Stanners.

A team of Fire and Emergency New Zealand firefighters and support crew are taking part in the Extreme Walk 2 D'Feet MND to raise awareness of motor neurone disease.

They will be walking 170km from Palmerston North to Wellington, while wearing over 20kg of gear each including masks and breathing apparatus.

Motor neurone disease is a group of diseases in which the nerve cells - neurones - cause the muscles to gradually weaken and waste away, leading to the loss of mobility in the limbs, and difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing, eventually killing its sufferers.

The funds that the group raises will be split between researching a cure and patient care.

The team members include Chris Kennedy, Doyle Stanners, Justin Storey, Jeremy Dodge, Dan Nesbit, Belinda Cadzow and Angela Pomana.

Their participation started after the mother of one of Chris' friends passed away, but almost every member of the team has been touched by the disease at some stage.

Lynette Hodges, from Massey University, has been training the walkers.

"She has put together training programmes tailored to each walker and they pick up in intensity by 10 per cent each week," Angela said.

"She is also involved in the nutrition for the walkers while they are walking and she will be coming with us to do any massage and strapping that may be required.

"We are very lucky to have her on board."

The walk is from Friday November 10 to Sunday November 12.

The team will have collection buckets with them for people to donate money.

People can donate by WALK to 2449, which automatically donates $3 or they can donate through our page on the MND website.

For more information visit www.mnda.org.nz