MND Fund Raiser Concert (honouring Ron Pestana)

A personal experience with someone suffering from Motor Neurone Disease (MND) leaves a lasting and sober impression. As MND attacks the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow, the degeneration is typically, tragically terminal, within a short period of time.  It's currently killing two Australians every day.

Though it does not affect sensory or cognitive functions, watching a loved one succumb to its affects is heart-wrenching. In 2006 my family experienced the loss of our dynamic and talented father, Hugh Robertson, to MND.

The trigger for this special 2019 concert was hearing about a business colleague, Ron Pestana, who in March 2019, with his wife Bev, were selling their business due to Ron being diagnosed with MND. Touched by the plight of the situation, and in light of Ron’s 30 years’ selling real estate in the area, during which he also served in the Logan Chamber of Commerce (as President and VP), received the Logan Chamber of Commerce President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the people of Logan, supporting charities and sporting clubs, it seems fitting in return to show community appreciation to Ron, and a goodwill opportunity to pool resources to generate more funds for MND Research.  

As such, on May 12 2019, local musicians, community groups and artists hosted a (non-profit) concert to show support and raise funds for MND research, to help find a cure. Your donation will make a difference! Any contribution, big or small, and will go direct to the Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia (MNDRIA).  

Sadly, Ron passed away only several weeks prior to the concert.  He did not ask for this tribute, nor will his family gain financially from it in any way, but he agreed to it in the hope it might indirectly prevent others from battling the affliction, or alleviate their suffering in some way.

Thank you Ron and Bev, for your years of service to Logan City and surrounds, and may this expression of support from your community in some way comfort your family at this difficult time. 

Thanks so much for your generous support!  Visit our concert website at https://mndconcert.com.au/ for more information.

Geoff 

Donations made through this platform are secure and will be remitted directly through to MNDRIA.