THE Wagga community banded together on Sunday to show its support in the fight against motor neurone disease (MND), with upwards of 300 people walking around Lake Albert in aid the cause.
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The second edition of the Walk to D'feet MND in Wagga, which raises money for research into MND, saw a sharp increase in participants on last year's inaugural event.
Preliminary estimates by organisers indicated the event could have raised around $20,000.
Local organiser Pat O'Hara, who lost her husband in 2010 to the disease, said the increased awareness of the illness was a major factor in this year's bumper attendance.
"It's a big increase from last year," she said.
"It just shows the awareness is out there - maybe because of that ice bucket challenge, when people see (MND), they recognise what it is."
Mrs O'Hara praised the Wagga community for its outpouring of generosity and support after the walk.
However, there was a sadder side to Sunday's bumper turnout, she believes, with the large gathering an indication of just how much of the community has been touched by MND.
"There's a high incidence of MND in this area," Mrs O'Hara said.
"Most people either know somebody, have cared for somebody, or lost somebody."