Melbourne woman Angie Cunningham dies after long battle with Motor Neurone Disease

INSPIRATIONAL mum Angie Cunningham has died after her long battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

Angie with husband Pat and daughters Maggie and Sophie. Picture: Supplied

INSPIRATIONAL mum Angie Cunningham has died after her long battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

She died at her Melbourne home overnight surrounded by family.

Angie, mum to Maggie and Sophie, was integral to raising awareness of MND in Australia and shared her story with the Sunday Herald Sun in an interview that took some five months because of her condition.

As the disease took hold, Angie was unable to move and communicated with her iPad, by moving her eyes.

The former junior tennis champion enlisted superstars including Serena Williams, Martina Navratilova, Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt to raise awareness and funds to fight the deadly disease.

Angie Cunningham with friend Cath Baker. Picture: Supplied

Angie passed away as eldest daughter Maggie, 10, read aloud a special book of advice, stories and photos her mum had created for her and her sister.

Husband Pat was at her side.

Her close friend and carer Cath Baker was also struck down with MND in a sad twist, after helping to look after Angie.

Tennis players Nick Kyrgios and Rennae Stubbs and golfer Annika Sorenstam were among sport stars to pay tribue to Angie on social media.

I remember meeting Angie & shooting an MND promo in Melbourne. So sad. Such a shit awful disease. #RIPAngie X https://t.co/ZYNNBA0QDk

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) October 5, 2016

Read Angie’s incredible story:

HAMISH MCLACHLAN: THE GIRL FROM TASSIE WHO INSPIRES US ALL

Angie and Pat. Picture: Supplied

Angie Cunningham with Serena Williams. Picture: Supplied

WHAT IS MND?

Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name given to a group of diseases in which the nerve cells (neurones) controlling the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow generate and die.

There is no known cause and there is no cure. On average, every 12 hours in Australia someone is diagnosed with MND and every 12 hours someone dies of MND.

The average life expectancy after diagnosis is just 27 months. The Cure for MND Foundation delivers hope to sufferers and their families.

Donate at curemnd.org.au