Walkers support motor neurone research

Members of the West Coast Bombers roller derby team led the walk for motor neuron disease in Whanganui.

Despite rain and an early start due to daylight saving time, around 300 people turned out to support the Walk 2 D'Feet in Whanganui yesterday.

Organiser Lana Hook said there had been 140 online registrations and over 100 individuals and family groups turned up to register for the event yesterday morning.

Motor neurone disease (MND) is a neurological condition that affects around 300 New Zealanders at any given time and there is no effective treatment.

The disease causes the progressive degeneration of specialised nerve cells, called motor neurons, in the brain and spinal cord.

It has no known cause and is invariably fatal, with a likely life expectancy of 2-4 years from diagnosis.

Mrs Hook saw her mother die from MND in December last year and she describes it as a "hideous disease."

The walk was one of 14 held around New Zealand yesterday and the Whanganui walkers headed off from the i-site at 10am.

Led by the West Coast Bombers roller derby team, they walked along the river to Dublin St Bridge, back along the east side and over the City Bridge where a sausage sizzle awaited them back at the i-site.

The 5km walk was completed by many children riding scooters and there were around 50 dogs accompanying their owners on the walk.

Half the money raised from Walk 2 D'Feet will go towards supporting MND research in New Zealand.