Gollan Family

We have created this fundraiser in loving memory of our aunty and Mum’s beautiful sister, Yvette, who recently passed away from MND. In July 2024, Yvette’s life was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease. Tragically, there is no cure for this disease, and the average life expectancy from diagnosis is around 27 months.
Being told that there was nothing that could stop the progression of the disease was one of the hardest things our family has ever had to hear. There was no treatment that could reverse it, no surgery that could fix it, only the advice to try to make the most of the time we had left together. It is a moment that changes everything. Suddenly time feels different, the future you imagined shifts, and every day becomes more precious.
Even as her body failed her, Yvette remained herself in every way that mattered. Her smile could light up a room, and her laugh full of warmth and mischief made everyone around her laugh with her. She had an incredible sense of humour and held onto it right until the end.
Yvette’s greatest joys in life were her family and friends. Her husband Desy, and her children Alex, Nicholas, and Molly meant absolutely everything to her. She also shared a rare and special bond with her sister, our Mum, Leslie Ann, which many admired. For many years, Yvette devoted her life to caring for others as a special needs assistant in a high school, giving her time, patience, and heart to those who needed it most. Outside of work, she embraced life fully. She loved to dance, sing, laugh loudly, enjoy a drink with friends, and take long walks along the river with the dogs.
This year we walk to honour Yvette. Her strength, her laughter, her kindness, and the life she lived with such love. We walk so that one day no family has to hear the words we heard or endure this heartbreak. If Yvette’s story teaches us anything, it is this: Live life fully. Hold your friends and family tight. Cherish every moment together 💙