What is a Walk Champion?
Motor Neurone Disease is a devastating disease that has touched many in our community. Each year, people come together through the Walk to Defeat MND to honour loved ones, support those currently living with MND, and raise awareness and vital funds for the support services families rely on.
A special tradition of our walks is recognising Walk Champions. At each walk location, we invite an individual, family or team from our community who has been directly impacted by MND to take on this role.
Our Walk Champions help lead the Sea of Blue on the day and share their story — reminding us why we walk, who we walk for, and the strength of the community standing beside them.
Below, you’ll meet this year’s Walk Champions for the Gold Coast and hear the story behind why they are walking.
Introducing Walk Champions, The Hryczyszyn Family
Team Ritzy will be walking this year in honour of Mark Hryczyszyn.
Mark began feeling unwell in July and August 2024. After multiple visits to emergency departments, GP appointments, specialist consultations, medication trials and pathology tests, he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease – Progressive Bulbar Palsy in November 2024.
The disease progressed rapidly. By Christmas 2024, Mark had lost his speech. By January 2025, he was first nasally fed and then PEG fed. MND took so much from Mark in such a short time.
Shortly after his diagnosis, Mark contacted MND Queensland, and their support was incredible. They met with the family, explained the disease, and arranged for Mark’s voice to be recorded so he could continue communicating through the Acapela app. Through MND Queensland, Mark and his family also had access to speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, equipment, and ongoing support exactly when it was needed. With such a fast-moving disease, that support made an enormous difference.
Mark was a social, outgoing man who loved people and life. Through his work, he travelled extensively throughout Queensland and the Northern Rivers. His greatest passions were his family, surf lifesaving, and travel. Having only retired in July 2023, he and his family had been enjoying many trips around Australia. Christmas 2024 was spent together in Margaret River, making special family memories.
Mark lived an active life. He rode his bike daily from Coolangatta to Currumbin, surf swam between Rainbow Bay and Kirra, officiated at surf lifesaving boat carnivals, and volunteered on patrol at Greenmount Beach. He was a Life Member of Tweed Heads & Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club, where he generously gave his time and energy for many years.
Tweed Heads & Coolangatta SLSC later received a grant for a surf boat, which was named Mark Hryczyszyn “Ritzy” in his honour. In a deeply moving tribute, Mark’s ashes were taken out to sea in that boat, with his son Michael and daughter Kate in the crew alongside his longtime boatie mates. Today, the boat continues to compete in surf lifesaving carnivals — a proud and lasting legacy for Mark’s family and friends.
Mark lived with an open heart. He made sure the people around him knew they mattered, and he devoted so much time and passion to the people and causes he loved. It is no surprise that so many people showed up for Mark and for our family throughout his MND journey.
In 2025, more than 70 participants walked for Mark in the Walk to Defeat MND on the Gold Coast. A second Team Ritzy also walked for him in Cairns in July 2025. Together, both teams raised more than $11,000 and received several awards.
Mark’s family, including his four young grandchildren, were by his side throughout this journey. After an incredibly courageous fight, Mark passed away in September 2025.
