By DANI ROTHWELL
ANGELA Sykes knows Motor Neurone Disease (MND) on a personal level.
The Pakenham woman’s father, Harvey Sykes, was diagnosed with MND in 2012.
Up until this point, Harvey had been fit and had worked as a carpenter since he was 16.
“I remember growing up, Dad used to say that he wouldn’t wish it on his worst enemy, and then he was faced with it,” Angela said.
Harvey died in 2013, an experience Angela describes as horrible.
“It was horrible to watch him wasting away in front of our eyes,” she said.
“He was such a caring and compassionate man.”
His mother died 30 years ago from MND as well.
Now Angela is taking a stand and calling for research and developments in treating the debilitating disease.
“It’s such a shame that there hasn’t been any advancements in treatment or finding a cure since my nanna died over 30 years ago,” she said.
She’s acutely aware that this could have further impacts on her family’s future.
“My family have supported the efforts of MND Victoria and Cure for MND in attending fund-raising events and one of my sisters has recently become a volunteer also,” she said.
In October, she’s participating in Daniher’s Drive, named after Australian rules footballer Neale Daniher.
“MND has most recently been in the media spotlight with the very well-known Neale Daniher being diagnosed with what he terms is a ‘beast’ of a disease,” she said.
Daniher’s Drive is being run by the Cure for MND Foundation and calls all sports fans, adventurers, driving enthusiasts and fundraisers to participate in a four-day road-trip to raise funds for awareness to find a cure.
Angela’s team, Team Sykes, is made up of herself and Rob Falkingham, her partner.
Entrants pay a registration fee and are also required to raise $4000 before they can participate in the rally.
“All of the money raised goes straight to Cure MND fund for research and support measures for people living with MND,” she said.
The road-trip itself travels through the Great Ocean Road, the Grampians, the Murray River and returns back to Melbourne.
To donate to Team Sykes, visit https://curemnd.org.au/drive-sykes/
