When Katherine Moore received the life-changing diagnosis last year, her friends and family banded together to raise funds for treatment and a motor neurone disease cure.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Following the end of a month-long fundraising challenge, Mrs Moore and her loved ones and supporters gathered for a celebration at Saint John's Craft Beer Bar on Saturday.
Mrs Moore, 48, a long-term Longford Primary School teacher and lover of music, previously toured America and Europe with the Australian Wind Orchestra.
Now she is facing the battle of MND, a disease that 2100 Australians live with, including 51 Tasmanians.
MND causes the nerve cells controlling a person's muscles to fail to work normally and eventually the nerve dies.
With no nerves, the muscles gradually weaken and waste away and there is no known and effective treatment or cure for the insidious disease.
Mrs Moore's best friends Liz Nast and Labor Bass MHA Michelle O'Byrne signed up for the Fight MND 27 Challenge, which saw them complete 27 push-ups, 27 squats and 27 sit-ups each day from September 27 to November 27.
Also joining them in the challenge was Mrs Moore's son Lachlan, who was thankful for those involved.
"I want to thank everyone because this support means so much to Mum, to know so many people love her and want to help find a cure," he said.
The 27 Challenge name reflects the average life expectancy of 27 months from diagnosis of MND.
READ MORE: August dates sour Agfest for dairy farmers
The challenge asks those taking part to do exercises themed around the number 27, whether that be the number of kilometres, days of exercise or push-ups daily.
Ms O'Byrne said she and Mrs Moore's loved ones were motivated to do all they can to help in her fight.
"I am overwhelmed by the response to our fundraising because whilst Katherine has a lot of support from her family and her NDIS package what she really needs is a cure,"she said.
"27 months is simply not long enough for Katherine, her family or her friends," she said.
The For Katherine team said they would continue to fundraise for a cure, with more events planned in the future.
Mrs Nast said MND was a disease that affects not just the individual, but everyone around them.
"It's a heartbreaking diagnosis, not just for Katherine, but her beautiful family and friends who all love her so much," she said.
- To donate visit: https://hub.fightmnd.org.au/27-challenge-2021/for-katherine
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark www.examiner.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @examineronline
- Follow us on Instagram: @examineronline
Follow us on Google News: The Examiner