Nurse Jo Boon has raised more than $100k for Motor Neurone Disease Queensland

More than three years after she was told she had six months to live, Queensland nurse Jo Boon is determined to ‘keep fighting’, raising money to help others struck down with the same deadly condition.

Jo Boon was told she had six months to live but almost three-and-a-half years later the former nurse is forging ahead with her quest to help others struck down with the same deadly condition.

Incredibly, she has raised more than $100,000 for Motor Neurone Disease Queensland and vows to “keep going until my last breath”.

MND attacks nerve cells that carry messages from the brain to the muscles, destroying a person’s ability to walk, talk, swallow and breathe. There is no cure.

Within weeks of her shock diagnosis in October 2019 while working at Greenslopes Private Hospital, Mrs Boon lost almost her entire ability to speak.

Jo Boon is a former cancer nurse who was struck down with motor neurone disease. Picture: Liam Kidston

But with her husband Peter by her side, the former oncology ward nurse still organises and attends as many social gatherings as possible.

“I’ve done fundraising walks, painting classes, parties and lunches – but none of these would be possible without friends and family,” writes Mrs Boon, 60, of Gumdale.

“I want to show other MND patients that although the disease is fatal, we can keep fighting with a positive, never-give-up attitude.”

Mrs Boon has received support from many high-profile Queenslanders, including pop band Sheppard, former international cricketer Ian Healy, Brisbane Lady Mayoress Nina Schrinner, fashion designer Sonia Stradiotto, Stefan general manager Rose King, Epic Hair Designs owner Brendon Mann, philanthropist Marisa Vecchio and stylist Sarah Hutson of SFH Designs.

Mrs Boon’s daughter Lara, a player with the Ipswich Eagles AFC, also organises an annual fundraiser through her club.

MND Queensland CEO Stacey Thorpe said Mrs Boon was “truly an inspiration”.

“Jo faces this MND monster head on while raising vital funds so MND Queensland can provide expert services and support to families,” Ms Thorpe said.

“Jo’s Instagram page shows her joys, her fabulous love of fashion and how she lives with MND, but it also shows her struggles … her honesty and openness reveal what battling MND is like.”