Three years ago Malcolm Buck strode into these offices proud to announce his candidacy in the Maitland City Council elections and displayed no sign of a disease that would devastate his life.
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An intelligent, articulate and convivial human being he humbly felt he could offer much to the city having previously served Strathfield Council.
While he was unsuccessful, he has done much to raise awareness of motor neuron disease in the Lower Hunter, which had been his quiet aim all along.
After the elections, in July last year, he revealed his diagnosis and his inner battle with MND.
On Thursday, Dr Buck, a geologist, volunteered for the ice bucket – a social media phenomena that’s taken the world by storm – to further the cause.
On a brisk winter day he had his loving wife Deb unload a veritable barrel of chilled water on him.
His condition meant he was shivering before the water even hit him.
MND is the name given to a group of diseases in which the nerve cells (neurons) controlling the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow undergo degeneration and die.
Motor function is controlled by the upper motor neurons in the brain that descend to the spinal cord; these neurons activate lower motor neurons.
The lower motor neurons exit the spinal cord and directly activate muscles.
MND is known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in many parts of the world, and as Lou Gehrig’s disease in the USA.
The Mercury congratulates Dr Buck on the brave and selfless way he has faced his disease and its demons.
To show your support for Malcolm Buck visit www.mndnsw.asn.au to make a donation or visit www.maitlandmercury.com.au to share some words of encouragement.
