A new campaign from creative production agency Eric Tom and Bruce launches the Great MND Relay as MND Victoria celebrates its 41st year.
From June 23 – June 25, supporters will walk the Harold Stevens Athletic Track in Coburg for 41 hours non-stop to raise awareness and funds for the state’s only Motor Neurone Disease (MND) care provider, MND Victoria.
With no treatment in sight and an average life expectancy of just 27 months, those diagnosed with MND today will not live to see a cure tomorrow. Instead, what’s left behind for the living, is care — a message poignantly reinforced through the relay’s launch video.
Aptly titled “Until there’s a cure, there’s care” and created and produced by Melbourne production agency Eric, Tom and Bruce, the moving film captures patients, loved ones, widows and friends affected by MND, under the glow of a tungsten-lit athletics track.
Produced and directed by Samantha Haines, the key creative has been supported by a series of intimate case studies, capturing new ambassador Anthony Callea with three MND patients: there’s the self-described style icon (albeit tear-jerker) Anne, the whiskey-loving muso Mark and the effervescent Trevor.
Callea recently lost a close friend to the disease and the Australian singer is determined to spread awareness for the currently incurable disease.
Says Mr Callea: “Earlier this year I lost a friend to MND. The pain he, his children and all those around him went through was devastating. This experience truly showed me how crucial care-based services like MND Victoria are to those in need which is why I’ll be walking on June 23rd.”
Says executive producer, Victoria Conners: “Since 2019, we’ve worked closely with MND Victoria to support their various appeals campaigns and more recently, their first ambassador program. This recent slate of work has been incredibly special to our team and we hope it encourages more Victorians to create a supportive and dignified space for those living with MND.”
Adds Daniel Woodrow, manager of support and development at MND Victoria: “We’re thrilled to launch The Great MND Relay with our friends at Eric, Tom and Bruce. While we’ll never stop fighting for a future free of MND, we hope this campaign encourages our fellow Victorians to join in. Whether you’ve lost someone, know someone or are someone who has been affected by MND, this walk is for you.”
Registrations for The Great MND Relay are now open.
To learn more about MND Victoria and the event, please visit: https://www.mndrelay.org.au/
