Swimming Rotto for FightMND

I am fundraising for FightMND!

Hello everyone,

I have decided to take on the challenge of doing the solo 19.7km Rottnest Channel swim (21^st of Febuary) and the 19.7km Port to Pub swim (21^st of March) to raise funds for FightMND. Both swims are from mainland Perth to Rottnest Island, and I am hoping these swims will be my 4^th and 5^th solo crossing.

The reason I have decided to fundraise for this amazing charity, FightMND is because the disease is very close to my family’s heart. My Nanna, Rita Appleby, who was very passionate about swimming was sadly diagnosed with progressive bulbar palsy (Type of MND) around June 2015. This aggressive form of MND mainly affects your speech and swallowing and has a life expectancy of 6 months to 3 years. Sadly, Rita lost her battle after 18 months and passed away on the 22^nd of December 2016.

The hardest thing for Rita was losing the ability to talk, walk, and swallow. She was a very active person that loved socialising and being out and about with others. She found it mentally tough being confined to a wheelchair and relying on other people to assist with her day to day living, considering how independent she was. However, she was determined to not let the disease take everything from her and when she lost her speech, she started communicating through handwritten notes and was so determined, she mastered the art of using an iPad and started using social media to communicate and connect with people.

Very inspiring people, you may also know of that have lost their battle with MND include Dr Ian Davis, a medical doctor and co-founder of the Australian charity FightMND. Doddie Weir, a Scottish rugby union player who also represented the British and Irish Lions. Rob Burrow, a Leeds Rhinos Legend who sadly passed away in 2024. Other very inspiring people living with the disease and are advocating to raise awareness and funds for MND include AFL great, Neale Daniher who is also the co-founder of the charity FightMND. Stephen Darby, former Liverpool and Bradford City footballer who was part of Bradford City famous League Cup final run in 2013.

Although MND is classed as a rare disease, it is estimated 140,000 new cases are diagnosed worldwide each year. Within Australia, it is estimated that two people die from MND and two people are diagnosed with MND each day.  

Your donation to my swimming challenge will go towards discovering new treatments and hopefully one day, finding a cure to help defeat this deadly disease.  

Please feel free to donate or share to help support this cause.

Madoc