This guest post is written by Tina Ingraham, wife of WACX community member and racer, Todd Ingraham. We are proud to support those in need in the WACX community and encourage you to make a donation to support people living with MND.
Someone missing from the WACX season this year will be my husband, Todd Ingraham. He might be known more by sight, or by his grunting through the races. Todd was diagnosed last year with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and is in the grips of this insidious disease now. With no cure and no treatment, we were left to digest the grim prognosis of Todd having 1 – 5 years to live.
While the easy option would have been to throw the towel in, Todd squeezed as much out of his legs as he could, as their strength faded. He continued to ride and show up to as many of the events as he could. He wore a splint initially to help support the drop foot that had developed in his right leg. As the season progressed, so did the disease, with the last race him needing help getting on and off this bike.
Before Todd came to CX, he was an avid marathon runner and had dominated the Perth running scene for decades. Having ticked all his running boxes, he entered CX in the Master’s B category and thrived on the challenge of being deep in the pack. He juggled his still healthy addiction to running, his new addiction to CX, while he worked as a Canine Police Officer with WAPOL.
This year I am running the ‘HBF Run for a Reason’ Half Marathon to raise money and awareness for the MNDAWA. The association have been an amazing support for our family, as well as the increasing amount of West Australians diagnosed each week with MND.
If you are in the position to make any sized donation, I would be extremely grateful. Until there is a cure for MND, the only thing that can be given to a patient is care. MNDAWA can help provide that care.
Thanks so much, Tina Ingraham