FAQ for the Walk to Defeat MND 2024

When you Walk to Defeat MND on Sunday 19th of May 2024, you’ll be showing your support for people with Motor Neurone Disease and helping to fund practical care and wellbeing for South Australians and their families affected by this devastating, life-shortening disease. There is a 1:300 lifetime risk of being diagnosed with MND - that’s one person in an average sized cinema and those who are diagnosed should never walk alone.

MND is a difficult journey, but the team at MNDSA work hard to ensure that all participants enjoy a fun, upbeat day that celebrates the incredible strength of spirit amongst our community - doing all we can to make the day an inspiring, hopeful, and positive event for everyone.   

Yes please! Registering in advance helps our event team make logistical decisions to make the day comfortable and enjoyable for everyone. This includes everything from the number of food vans we need to how we set up the event area and COVID compliance (if necessary).  

Online Registrations can be made via https://my.mndsa.org.au/events until 9am on Saturday 18th May 2024.

We will accept registrations in person on the day at the registration tent.

The walk is 4.5km and it takes around 60 minutes to complete at a relaxed pace. We start at Pinky Flat walking along the river Torrens, crossing the river twice, firstly at the University Footbridge and again over the river Weir. The course is wheelchair, pram, scooter, and bike friendly. 

If you unsure if you have the stamina to do the full walk, here are some ideas to consider. 

• You can pre-order a wheelchair from MNDSA. We can even organise a volunteer to assist you on the day.
• You can start the walk and turn around at any point along the way.  
• You can take rest stops using one of the many public bench seats along the route. 
• You can ask a Safety Marshall for assistance if you need it. They are dotted regularly along the walk. 
• You could wait until the walkers are returning, and walk a little in the opposite direction to meet them and finish the walk with them.

That’s OK – you are still very welcome. Come along, enjoy the ambiance and when others are walking relax for 60 minutes or so until they return. The MND SA team down tools at this point of the day, so there will be people you can have a chat with. Live entertainment and food and beverage stalls will also be open at this time so it’s a good time to recharge when there are no queues.

Absolutely!  We have fun-filled children’s activities run by a terrific team from the YMCA, and there are plenty of open grassy areas for your youngest family members to run around and have fun.  

Of course! But you must register your dog before the day.  It costs just $20 to register your dog to walk which can be done as part of the registration process, and you will receive an official doggie bandana and lead which are yours to keep. During the walk, please consider others and ensure your four-legged friend is on a leash (and wearing a muzzle if they’re excitable in crowds).  We will have a doggie station on the day with bowls of water and ask that you follow park signage and clean up after your dog as needed.

For registrations before 31st of March 2024, we will post your T-Shirt (with free postage), so please ensure you provide your postal address when you register. If you register AFTER 31st March 2024, you are welcome to collect your T-Shirt from MNDSA, 66 Hughes Street, Mile End 5031 OR opt to pay for postage when you register, and we will post your T-Shirt(s) out to you. MNDSA Office hours are 9am-5pm Mon-Fri for collections.

Any registrations after Monday 13th of May, you will need to collect T-Shirts at the event, as we cannot guarantee postage arriving before the event.

Yes! We have people who come along on their own every year. We have a special meeting place for solos. Look for the signs on the day or ask our Event Crew.

Pinky Flat is wheel friendly and has easy-to-navigate bitumized pathways and level grassed areas.  The chairs we set up around the tables on site are easy to swap out to fit a wheelchair at the table comfortably. 

• The river walkway is wheels friendly 
• We have a disability access bathroom 
• Our support services staff will be available for assistance if required 
• We also have 2 x St Johns Officers should any medical assistance be required 
• You can pre-book a wheelchair and even a volunteer to aid you if needed

• You can put your hand up to volunteer on the day 
• You can make a donation via the event page on our website at: https://my.mndsa.org.au/event
• You can register to walk and contact us to have a friend walk on your behalf 
• You can help spread the word through your friends, family, business or social networks

We assemble at Pinky Flat, located on the River Torrens near the corner of War Memorial Drive and Montefiore Road, North Adelaide. It is a picturesque area of the parklands with vast grassed and shaded areas, with many places to sit and enjoy the relaxed friendly atmosphere we create for our community walk.  

You can be there anytime from 9am onwards and the event wraps up at approximately 2pm. The walk starts at 11am and takes around 60 minutes. It is such a great day to relax and catch up with old friends and make new ones.

The walk will proceed come rain or shine.  Pinky Flat is quite sheltered and the walkways are quite wide to allow the use of umbrellas if required.

Refreshments are available from 9am to 2pm and include: 

• Bacon and egg rolls 
• Coffee / Soft drinks / Water 
• Sausage sizzle inc onions and condiments 
• Sweets Treats

There’s also a doggie station for thirsty four-legged friends.

You can drive into Pinky Flat via the gate signed ENTRANCE and follow the bitumized driveway down to the MNDSA Support Services Marquee.   

People with a disability can alight here comfortably and set up their equipment.  For those who have pre-ordered an MNDSA wheelchair, the support staff will have it ready for you and provide assistance.  If you have arranged a volunteer to wheel you, this is where they will meet you. 

The driver can then leave Pinky Flat and park at one of the carpark facilities listed below and return to the same pickup point when ready to leave.

Pinky Flat is located on the River Torrens near the corner of War Memorial Drive and Montefiore Road, North Adelaide on the banks of the River Torrens to the right of Montefiore Bridge (see below). 

Pinky flat is just along War Memorial Drive, just a short distance (West) from Adelaide Oval. The Oval is accessible by train, tram and bus services. For public transport timetables and routes please click to visit the Adelaide Metro website for the latest information.

Street parking is available along War Memorial Drive, Pennington Terrace and on other roads within easy walking distance in North Adelaide. 

Paid car parking is also available: 

Adelaide Oval East Car Park 

• Access via King William Road (north-bound lanes only) 
• Open 24/7 (excluding event days) 
• Wilson Parking fees apply 
• Wilson Parking offers a $15.50 Early Bird Book-A-Bay Car Park in the East Car Park on non-event days. For more information please visit wilsonparking.com.au.  

Adelaide Oval North Car Park 

• Access via Pennington Terrace 
• Open 24/7 (excluding event days) 
• Wilson Parking fees apply 
• Wilson Parking offers a $10 Book-A-Bay Car Park in the North Car Park on non-event days. For more information, please visit www.wilsonparking.com.au  

Festival Plaza Car Park 

• The new Festival Plaza car park is open on Festival Drive. Accessible via King William Road, turn into Festival Drive and follow the signs. 
• Inside the car park, the King William Road lifts will take you to the street level near the Festival Theatre. From there it's a short walk over the oval footbridge to Pinky Flat. 
• Visit the Festival Plaza Car Park website for more information.  

Adelaide Convention Centre 

• Offer two undercover car parking options with their North Terrace and Riverbank car parks. The Riverbank car park is accessible from Morphett Street / Festival Drive. 
• Both car parks are located directly under the Centre and operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each is fitted with video surveillance camera systems and security patrols both areas.