Thanks for fundraiser support

I would like to give my sincere and heartfelt thanks to Marc Matthews, the committee and players of Umina Bunnies football club for all the hard work, time and effort they gave to make Andrew Macintosh's fund raiser walk along the Woy Woy waterfront last Sunday, February 12, a huge success.

Without their devotion and dedication to a special cause, it would not have happened.

In 2010, at the age of 37, Andrew was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, a neurological disease that begins by disrupting the signals that are sent via the nervous system to the muscles and slowly renders the body paralysed.

Andrew, being the positive and determined person he is, set about looking into alternative treatments as the disease is fatal and not curable.

He found experimental stem cell treatment in China but this came at a cost.

It was a cost that now he was not able to work was impossible.

This is the second time Marc has come forward and offered his assistance to our worthy cause.

Last year the Umina Bunnies held a fundraising football match in aid of the disease which assisted Andrew in a trip to China for experimental stem cell research.

Once again the monies raised are to aid a return trip to help research this amazing treatment.

Though it isn't a cure, it is a step in the right direction.

This disease affects many friends and family and seems to be coming more prevalent.

We would also like to give a huge thank you to the Woy Woy Ulysses Motor Cycle Club.

They were having a meeting at Lions Park, Woy Woy, on the morning of the walk.

They took up a collection for Andrew as well as allowing us to use their barbecue as the council one wasn't working and we had lots of sausages, eggs and onions to be cooked for the many walkers that supported Andrew on the day.

A huge thank you to the Peninsula News too.

It's amazing what support is out there when you really need it.

And in an age where its only ever the negative that gets published about football players, it is teams like the Umina Bunnies that are not only a credit to themselves but their community.

The support that Andrew received from the community on the day was fantastic with about 100 people venturing from Blackwall boat ramp along the waterfront and down to the Lions Club Park at Woy Woy.

The weather was fantastic and we had a lovely stroll along the waterfront.

We can never thank Marc Matthews, the Umina Bunnies and the generous community enough for their support for Andrew and his family.

You will never know the difference you have made on our lives, especially Andrew's.

Online submission, 15 Feb 2012 Julie Johnson, Woy Woy