Geelong gala dinner aims to raise funds for MND research

THE organisers of Rock Off MND are hoping to this month reach a milestone $1 million raised since their fundraising efforts began nine years ago.

Hosted by the Geelong-based Simko family, the annual gala dinner aims to promote awareness of motor neurone disease (MND) and raise funds to support MND research.

The neurological disease affects more than 350,000 of the global population, claiming the lives of more than 100,000 people annually.

This year’s Rock Off MND event will be held on Saturday, May 11 at GMHBA Stadium and will feature a three-course meal and four hours of complimentary drinks along with raffles and an auction.

Live music entertainment will be provided by singer songwriter Lisa Hanley and Mr Meaner, a four-piece cover band whose repertoire includes a variety of rock and funk hits.

Daniel Simko said the event was a great opportunity for people to “have a good night and make a difference”.

The first Rock Off MND event – then a live music concert – took place in 2015.

It was conceived by Simko’s mother Jenny, a former nurse at Barwon Health, after she was diagnosed with MND the year prior at the age of 54.

Since her passing, the family have continued to host the fundraising event, shifting the format to a gala dinner in response to COVID restrictions in 2022.

“There’s still no known cause and no cure for MND and it really is an insidious disease,” Simko said.

“Having seen what mum went through, and then what my uncle in more recent times went through, there’s a burning passion from our family to continue to do what we can to raise awareness and funds towards research.”

The funds raised from the first Rock Off MND concert helped to establish a research grant in Jenny’s name.

Subsequent events have funded a further 11 research grants.

“MND Victoria obviously provide a lot of care and support to people who are suffering and living with MND and they’re amazing at doing that, but we really wanted the money raised to be going to research to try and find that cure,” Simko said.

“There’s a lot more funding going into MND, particularly since 2014 when the Ice Bucket Challenge kicked off, but the reality is there’s still no known cure.”

He said the family had recently been given the opportunity to meet with Dr Luke McAlary from the University of Wollongong, the latest recipient of the Jenny Simko MND research grant.

“It does give you some hope when you see that there are people who are literally dedicated to find a cure,” Simko said.

He said the family was keen to see as many people as possible attend the gala dinner, help raise funds for MND research and to support the vision of his mother who “spent her whole life caring for others”.

Ticket sales to the Rock Off MND will close at 8pm on Tuesday, May 7.