Woman lost 6 relatives to motor neuron disease and quit her job to find a cure. 9 years later, research she funded leads to a medical breakthrough
'When each family member has been diagnosed, and they receive the news, it ends there.,' said Assunta Meleca
Losing a loved one is devastating, but losing six family members, all to the same disease, is life-altering. Perth woman Assunta Meleca lost her grandmother, her great-aunt, her father, her uncle, her first cousin, and her sister, Caterina, to motor neuron disease (MND). Now, her brother Joe's life is also at risk. Meleca knew she had to do something; otherwise, the disease would ruthlessly take another family member. So she quit her job and started a charity called "Racing for MNDi" to begin research on the deadly disease. Nine years later, Meleca was glad to report a medical breakthrough. The story was shared by 7 News Perth on November 9, 2026, and it has had more than 315,000 views, over 4,000 likes, and 339 comments.
Refused to accept family's fate
Caterina, Meleca's sister, began slurring her words in 2016, and her family knew exactly what to expect next. They've seen the same signs in five of their late family members. After Caterina was diagnosed with MND, she passed away 22 months later at 57 years old. Meleca told the news outlet, "When each family member has been diagnosed, and they receive the news, it ends there. There's nothing else for them, and so, I wanted to change that." Since starting "Racing for MNDi" nine years ago, she has raised over $1 million that funded some of the best scientists in the country to work on a cure for the unforgiving disease.
$3 million needed
Nine years later, scientists at Murdoch University developed a "promising drug." Dr. Iante Pitout said, "Our drug removes about 95% of these hallmarks of the disease. It removes so much of these features that they resemble a normal, healthy cell from a normal or healthy person." But the problem Meleca now faced was getting $3 million in funding that would help them proceed with human trials. So far, the state government donated $600,000, but Meleca and her team of scientists need more to help the research progress.
Finding answers
Meleca started the non-profit organization with the aim of finding answers for people with MND, which not many people are aware of. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), MND is an umbrella term. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, accounts for 85% of MND cases in the U.S. A 2018 Ipsos survey found that only 34% of respondents knew something about ALS when it is not referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease."
Surprisingly, only 39% of Americans knew that ALS is always fatal. Another 2024 survey by I AM ALS found that 70% of respondents were not aware of ALS or knew very little about it. Furthermore, 90% of respondents did not know any organizations or charities that could help and support people with ALS.
Get pharmaceutical companies to invest
Viewers praised Meleca's efforts to save countless other people who are suffering from MND. Jan Baldock commented, "Here in Qld, a house was just recently sold for $43 million! So surely if they can pay that sort of money, they could help out?" Valerie Rose Harrison wrote, "Too late for so many who have succumbed to this horrid disease, but let's hope one day a cure can be found."
You can follow Racing for MNDi (@racingformndi) on Instagram for more updates.
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