Lance Collins on MND battle ahead of The Shut Up! For MND Challenge

A wheelchair-bound Highton man has opened up about his battle with motor neurone disease and how he takes on life alongside his blind wife.

Highton man Lance Collins refuses to let motor neurone disease dampen his outlook on life.

His wife, Cecile Lablache, was born blind and the couple is used to finding innovative ways to tackle potential challenges.

The first signs of MND appeared for Mr Collins, 77, in 2017.

He thought he could be suffering from frozen shoulders.

Lance Collins and his wife Cecile Lablache. Picture: Mark Wilson

But he received the diagnosis of MND – a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the nerves that support movement, speech, swallowing and breathing – in March 2020.

There is currently no known cause, treatment, or cure, and the average life expectancy after diagnosis is 27 months.

“Being as stoic as I am I thought let’s get on with it and I still am getting on with it,” Mr Collins said.

Since being diagnosed he lost use of his arms and then legs.

He has been wheelchair bound for several months.

Mr Collins still has use of his left foot and uses it to manoeuvre his wheelchair around.

“I’ve found innovative ways to do a lot of things,” he said.

Mr Collins married his wife earlier this year after they met in a choir about 15 years ago.

“I felt I needed to do something extra special in my life to give her joy,” he said.

“My total outlook is to put Cecile in a good place … I’m thinking what can I do to better (our life).

“I have a very positive outlook.

“I’ve got no time for negativity.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow – what part of my body I’m going to lose.”

Mr Collins is extremely grateful for the support MND Victoria has provided him.

MND Victoria’s The Shut Up! For MND Challenge is back for a second year.

It will take place on Thursday September 29 and involves participants not using their voice for six or 12 hours and finding alternative ways to communicate.

Participants also have the option of taking on The Corporate Challenge and encouraging their workplace to get involved and adapt the challenge to their business hours. Registration is free for both challenges.

In its first year, The Shut Up! For MND Challenge saw 219 people raise more than $113,000 for the direct care, support and vital assistive equipment required to help Victorians currently living with MND, to live better for longer.

On average there are about 470 Victorians living with MND at any one time.

Amajority of people with MND will lose their speech and become reliant on other forms of communication.

For more information visit www.shutupformnd.org.au

Originally published as Lance Collins on MND battle ahead of The Shut Up! For MND Challenge