Trademe auction charts the 'digital decline' of motor neurone disease patient

• Motor neurone disease (MND) gradually causes the muscles that enable us to move, speak, swallow and breathe to stop working – and as they do, we lose our ability to use everyday items
• MND New Zealand has partnered with TradeMe to stage a real-time auction of everyday household items, in a timeline reflective of a body’s deterioration
• “David’s Unusables” is a digital auction inspired by the true story of Whangarei-based David Seymour who lives with MND, as he sells items he can no longer use in everyday life.

David Seymour, who lives with motor neurone disease, has staged a digital auction in partnership with TradeMe that will sell everyday items he no longer has the ability to use.

The auction will start with large outdoor items like a fishing rod and a bike, through to everyday items such as a dog lead, before moving onto the likes of cutlery for when he no longer has the ability to feed himself.

The TradeMe auction has been launched to conincide with the global awareness day for motor neurone disease on June 21st.

David Seymour – who the “David’s Unusables” auction is based on – first started recognising the symptoms of MND in 2016 when he experienced ‘drop foot’ whilst walking. When he began tripping up stairs in 2017, he made an appointment to see a neurologist, who confirmed his diagnosis.

“It’s scary learning about your own mortality,” admits David. “I was 52 years old, thinking I could have it all. I could run, I was healthy, I had a passion for driving sports cars, a fantastic career – and then it all comes crashing down.”

“The physical items I still have means a lot less now than they ever did. It’s the memories of each item which means more than the items themselves. You have to maintain a positive outlook on the situation as difficult as it may be – I’m going to enjoy using what I can, whilst my body allows me to.”

“Unfortunately, I’m now confined to a power chair. Last week was the first time I’ve had to ask my son to help me finish my dinner as my arm had given out, so soon I won’t even be able to use simple things like cutlery or teacups.”

33 items are available for sale on a bespoke TradeMe store, with 100% of funds raised from their sale donated to MND New Zealand – a charity that supports people living with MND, their carers, families, whānau and health professionals through support, education, advocacy and research.

The full list of “David’s Unusables” includes items such as hiking boots, running gear, boxing gloves, a bicycle, a lawnmower, ties, swimming flippers, gardening equipment, a guitar, a BBQ and even simple items such as books, teacups and cutlery.

The TradeMe auction is supported by infomercial style promotional clips to highlight the variety of items available for sale, fronted by infomercial queen Suzanne Paul.

“I’ve had to declare ‘everything must go’ in infomercials for years,” said Suzanne Paul. “But it takes on a new meaning this time – quite simply, because of this terrible disease, David is having to let go of almost all his physical possessions, and we certainly want each and every one of them to sell so we can raise as much money as possible for this important cause.”

The auction is particularly important for New Zealand, as a recent study from the University of Auckland shows that New Zealanders have the among the highest known rates of motor neurone disease in the world.

The New Zealand MND mortality rate is as high as 2.8 deaths per 100,000 people per year. Internationally, an average of 1.67 people per 100,000 die every year. [1] The cause of MND is not known, there is very little treatment, no known cure, and no explanation for New Zealand’s high occurrence rate.

Emma Scotter, Head of the Motor Neuron Disease Lab at the Centre for Brain Research at University of Auckland, commented: “MND is relentless and debilitating – the gradual deterioration of muscle function is also a gradual deterioration of a certain way of life, of physical participation in everyday activities. Campaigns like this are crucially important – not only to raise funds for charities like MND New Zealand who provide care for patients, but also to raise community awareness.”

Carl Sunderland, CEO of MND New Zealand, commented: “Trapped inside a body that no longer works, with the inability to speak, move, or eventually breathe is simply terrifying. Despite the severity of the disease, we’re continuously impressed by the optimism and enthusiasm of the people we deal with like David.”

“We would like to thank him, his carers, and his family for their efforts to raise funds and awareness for this year’s MND Awareness Month. According to our research one third of people with MND die within a year and more than half within two years of diagnosis[2]. That’s why we’re adamant that every cent we raise will be reinvested in giving people like David the best quality of life – as well as trying to understand more about this incapacitating disease.”

The auction is running from June 21 until September. To bid on one of David’s unusable items, please visit trademe.co.nz/stores/DavidsUnusables

[1] https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/29382218

[2] https://mnd.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/MND-New-Zealand-Strategic-Plan-2019-22.pdf

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