NTI has continued its commitment to motor neurone disease (MND) research, with its latest annual truck raffle generating $468,000 for scientific investigation into the condition.
The 2025 draw, held during the NTI Supercars event in Townsville from July 11 to 13, marked a milestone by offering two prizes:
The winner, Robert Monks of Hobart, Tasmania, received both vehicles.
Since the truck raffle began seven years ago, NTI has raised nearly $3 million for MND research.
All proceeds from the raffle are directed to research grants through a partnership with the MND and Me Foundation.
Recently appointed NTI CEO Janelle Greene said the initiative was established in memory of former CEO Wayne Patterson, who died from MND in 2018.
“This cause is close to our hearts at NTI. We lost a former CEO and friend, Wayne Patterson, to MND in 2018. Since then, we’ve been committed to honouring his legacy by supporting life-changing research,” she said.
She added that the company’s goal is to use its platform and industry backing to support research that could lead to answers about MND. Each ticket purchased contributes to this effort.
“NTI’s truck raffles aren’t just a prize; they’re a symbol of hope,” Greene said. “Every day, two Australians are diagnosed with MND, and tragically, two lives are lost.”
The 2024 NTI Research Grant has been awarded to Dr. Lotta Oikari at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.
Oikari’s project will use stem cells to develop laboratory models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in people with MND. The BBB acts as a protective filter for the brain, but its function can be compromised in neurological diseases.
The research will investigate the link between abnormal TDP-43 protein build-up – a feature observed in MND patients – and damage to the BBB.
The project will also explore whether restoring the barrier’s function could be a viable treatment approach.
“I’ve been focusing on MND research for about five years. I’m passionate about using my expertise in stem cells to better understand neurological diseases that are difficult to treat, such as MND, with the aim of finding new treatments for these diseases,” Oikari said.
NTI’s fundraising has also included raffling restored vintage trucks. In 2024, the restoration and raffle of a 1946 Ford Jailbar truck, known as Bonnie, raised $483,000 for MND research.
Over the years, NTI’s grants have supported research at several institutions, including the University of Queensland, the Queensland Brain Institute, and the Clive Berghofer Medical Institute.
