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CEO to take a dive for Motor Neurone Disease

Daring decision from Perth CEO’s a leap of faith

It’s not often that Perth CEO’s Mathew Brown, Mark Whiteman, Adam Kelly and Mark Fitzpatrick are in the same room, let alone jumping from the same plane.

The four CEO’s will be diving 8000ft for dollars when they jump out of a plane on November 3 – all to raise funds and awareness for West Australians living with Motor Neurone Disease.

The Motor Neurone Disease Association of WA fundraiser supports people and their families affected by MND, a terminal neurological condition with no known cause or cure, that robs patients of their ability to speak, move and eat, but leaves the mind healthy and intact.

Motor Neurone Disease Association of WA chief executive Mathew Brown and Ray White CEO Mark Whiteman have both been personally affected by MND.

In October 2010, Mathew lost his father Stephen Brown to MND at age 50, after a 22-year battle with the disease. Stephen was diagnosed with MND just after Mathew was born, and was told by doctors he was expected to live for only another two to five years.

Mathew said his dad had an inspirational fighting spirit and commitment which meant that despite his deteriorating condition, he was a driving force at MNDAWA and remained on the board up until a month before he passed away.

“When my father was diagnosed, he found there was no one to support him and became a major player in getting MNDAWA off the ground. The Association first started as a meeting in a garage and through its dedicated supporters has grown to the organisation it is today,” he said.

Mr Whiteman said he was doing the skydive in honour of his mother Ann, who was first diagnosed with MND in 2001. She died a year later in 2002 – at just 54 years old.

“Mum deteriorated quite rapidly and required full-time care. My dad did absolutely everything for her, particularly in the later stages of the disease,” he said.

“It’s tough to see a loved one suffer, and the disease is not just devastating for those diagnosed but also takes a huge toll on the carers.

“By participating in Dive for Dollars I hope to make a difference to the experience of people affected by MND in the future, so they won’t have to suffer as people have in the past. I live in hope that one day we will find a cure.”

East Fremantle Football Club CEO Adam Kelly said he was inspired to participate in the tandem skydive after hearing Mathew Brown speak about his late father’s experience with the disease at the inaugural Kerry Coates - Joyce Allen Perpetual Trophy match in July.

“I was truly touched by Mat’s story, it really hit home for me. I can’t think of many diseases that are more horrible than MND, having your full mental capability but being trapped in a body that is failing you, unable to live a normal life,” he said.

“East Fremantle Football Club has a strong link to MND because of renowned premiership player and coach Kerry Coates, who passed away in 2007, two years after he was diagnosed with MND.

“This year the East Fremantle Football Club and Swan Districts Football Club played off for the perpetual trophy at our first Motor Neurone Disease Awareness Day, in honour of Kerry Coates and Swan Districts’ life member Joyce Allen, who both passed away from MND.”

Mark Fitzpatrick, the CEO of St Vincent de Paul, said that as the CEO of a not-for-profit organisation, sometimes he had to work out how to help others in the sector and give back to some of the smaller organisations who may not get as much attention or media exposure.

The Motor Neurone Disease Association of WA is a not-for-profit organisation that provides support and equipment for people living with Motor Neurone Disease and their families.

MNDAWA has provided support for people living with MND since 1983. MNDAWA also provides education and networking support to health care professionals who work beside people with MND and is committed to annually contributing funds to Motor Neurone Disease research.

One of the founding members of the Motor Neurone Disease Association of WA, Stephen Brown was also formerly President and executive officer of MNDAWA and President of MND Australia.

To donate in support of MND and Adam's Jump click here

East Fremantle in the Foxtel Cup

May. 21, 2013

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