Walk to Defeat MND Hervey Bay is on the 19th October from 9AM at Scarness Esplanade, Hervey Bay. Damian Andrews will lead the charge as our Walk Champion this year and will share his story.
What is a Walk Champion?
We know MND has directly impacted many in our community, which is why our wonderful community choose to make a difference. Their ongoing commitment to making a positive impact is commendable, and we've introduced the Walk Champion initiative to celebrate people that really go the extra mile!
Before each Walk, we ask a family or individual in our community who is participating for a loved one living with MND or is honouring those they've lost to this devastating condition, to be Walk Champion. The Walk Champion intentionally leads our Sea of Blue, and we'll share their wholehearted reasons for walking.
Introducing Damian Andrews
Damian’s Journey: Living Every Moment, Fighting with Heart
Born and raised in the coastal town of Hervey Bay, Damian has always been someone who builds things—homes, friendships, memories. A carpenter by trade for over 25 years, Damian built not just with his hands, but with heart. In 2000, he met Jane, his “beautiful wife,” and together they’ve created a life full of love, laughter, and adventure with their three boys: Ethan (18), Lachlan (15), and Charlie (10).
Today, Damian walks not only alongside his beloved family, but with the powerful support of friends, followers, and a community that has rallied around him in ways he never imagined. They walk as one under the banner of Damian’s Journey and Fight with MND—a Facebook page that started as a way to share his story and has grown into a beacon of hope for thousands, with nearly 12,000 followers from around the world.
Diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in January last year, Damian’s life changed forever. But instead of retreating into the shadows, he made a choice—to live.
“I was given two choices,” he shares. “Sit at home and dwell on what’s to come, or make every moment count and live life. Before MND, we were existing. Now, we are truly living.”
And live they do. Whether it's spending time building intricate LEGO creations, tinkering in the shed with wood, talking all things motorbikes, or simply soaking in the joy of time spent with loved ones, Damian continues to find purpose and passion in everyday moments.
His diagnosis brought challenges, but it also brought out something beautiful: connection. Strangers turned into supporters, and supporters into friends. “Sometimes you forget there are such beautiful people in this world,” Damian says. “The love and support we receive through our page has touched our hearts deeply.”
Damian and his family are now fierce advocates for MND awareness and research, passionately calling on the Australian government to fund clinical trials and accelerate the search for a cure. Every step they take, every story they share, is driven by a mission: to bring visibility to this cruel disease and to let others know they are not alone.
His message to others living with or supporting someone with MND is simple, but powerful:
“Never give up. Fight for your life. But know you are never alone—help is only a click, call, or message away.”
The words that carry him through this journey are etched deep in his heart:
“Live every day. Make every moment count.”
And that’s exactly what Damian is doing—leading with courage, grounded in love, and living every step of his journey with fierce determination and grace.
Join us for the walk