Ten foot tall and Bulletproof until Motorneuron came knocking!!!

Well it’s the weekend of the big REUNION and I just want to say a HUGE THANKS to everyone who has supported us to get uncle there!!! Everyone is so happy to be spending the next few days together especially my nana and uncle ray!!! Have a safe and happy weekend!! xXx

Everyone has a story and this is my Uncle Rays.... A Hardworking kiwi bloke who loved a cold beer in his shed at the end of a long summer day in the garden with his beautiful soul mate Jenny. Living his dream... that was until June 2016 when he was sadly and suddenly robbed of her as illness hospitalized her and within 6 weeks life had faded and she passed away. In the meantime Ray had just received test results in April 2016 as to why his legs were failing him. He had been diagnosed with Motor neuron disease.

It is a neurological condition that causes the progressive degeneration of specialized nerve cells, called motor neurons, in the brain and spinal cord. It has no known cause and is invariably fatal, with a likely life expectancy of 2 - 4 years from diagnosis. As the condition progresses, sufferers may be unable to walk, speak, use their arms and hands, or hold up their head.

So while grieving the loss of his Best friend the love of his life and trying to absorbed this debilitating illness Ray has struggled not only Emotionally but Physically to live life everyday with a smile. He made the big decision to sell up and move from the beautiful home they had created in Featherston to live with his daughter and her family in Timaru so she could help care for him and he could be around his Grandchildren. This has been a big change for everyone.

My cousin Sam with the support of her partner Rob not only works full time and has four boys but has dedicated herself to taking care of her Dad.

We are wanting to raise funds to take Ray on a Trip to an organised family reunion for my Late Popa’s side of the family and family from all over New Zealand will be attending. My Nana worry’s that she won’t get to see her son again because they live so far away and she is getting older and Ray is getting sicker. So the plan is to Surprise her!! It’s very important as it will boost Ray’s emotional well-being to spend quality time with family before he becomes sicker. It gives him something to look forward to.

Sam has committed to getting Ray to the reunion In Blenheim with the help of a mobility van and her partner and I am committed to helping raise funds to take the pressure off her to find then. It would be heart breaking to think he will be sitting at home in his wheelchair while everyone else is together at the reunion.

Any donation will be greatly appreciated and many memories will be made for all on this trip. Thank you for taking the time to read my Uncle Rays story xx