Support Brendan in His Fight Against Motor Neurone Disease

Dear family, friends, colleagues, and supporters, my name is Brock Mathison, and it is my honour to be an extended family member of the Church and Matchett families, and also the proud Godfather to Brendan and Rachel's children, Imogen and Ashton.

We are reaching out to you with heavy hearts, but hopeful spirits to share with you Brendan's recent diagnosis of MND; a progressive and debilitating illness that affects the nerves in the brain and the spinal cord, leading to loss of function in muscle movements. MND is a life-changing diagnosis that will present immense emotional, physical, and financial challenges to Brendan and his family.

Brendan is currently a Warrant Officer (E-9) in the Royal Australia Air Force, and partly due to the consequences of his MND diagnosis, he will soon be retiring after 30 years of outstanding and devoted service to his country. Brendan is a decorated Aviator, being awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in the Australia Day Honours List of 2012 for outstanding achievement as a C130 Engineering Specialist. Deciding to leave his beloved Air Force has been a particularly difficult decision for Brendan, so we thank him whole heartedly and respectfully for his service to our nation.

We are creating this GoFundMe page to not only assist Brendan and his family with the ability to finance related expenses, assistive equipment, and seek professional emotional support - we also aim to provide Brendan and his family a means to fulfill a few bucket-list adventures during the early stages of his diagnosis. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference for Brendan and his family. Your generosity will provide not only financial relief but also an invaluable gift for Brendan and his family to enjoy. We are deeply grateful for any support you can offer, whether it be a donation, sharing this campaign with others, or simply extending some kind words of encouragement and support to Brendan.

Thank you for taking the time to read Brendan's story and standing with us in his fight against MND. Together, we can make a huge difference in the life of someone that is truly loved and cherished by us all.

with gratitude, Brock Mathison.