Raffle tickets still on sale

Tickets are still on sale for a 1946 Jailbar truck, restored by Australia’s leading transport and logistics specialist insurer, NTI, to raise much-needed funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research.

NTI’s CEO Tony Clark said the company was thrilled the classic truck, dubbed Jolene, and the fourth to be restored by NTI, was proving to be more popular than ever.

“Ticket sales for our restored trucks have never sold at such a fast pace and with only a week to go we urge anyone wanting to win this magnificent piece of machinery, to buy a ticket. We are thrilled tickets are motoring along for Jolene,” Mr Clark said.

Tickets for Jolene remain on sale online and at the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show until the winner is announced at the show at 2:30pm on Sunday May 16. The truck will be located outside the glass doors at the Plaza Bar, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre for the duration of the show.

Buy tickets here.

“NTI is rebuilding trucks, while MND researchers are trying to restore people’s lives. It’s vital we find a cure for MND as every day in Australia two people die from the debilitating condition while more than 2100 Australians live with MND, which can affect adults of any age,” Mr Clark said.

NTI’s Restoration and Special Projects Lead, Don Geer, said restoring Jolene was a labour of love.

“It took 1500 hours to turn a rusty old relic into a stunningly beautiful electric blue truck. It has new Isuzu running gear so it behaves like a modern vehicle that can be driven every day,” Mr Geer said.

One hundred per cent of ticket sales go towards MND research to help researchers continue their work to find a cure or effective treatment for MND.

NTI has raised almost $534,000 for MND research in the past five years, with money raised donated to MND and Me and MND Research Australia to fund NTI’s official research grant.

The University of Queensland’s Dr Shyuan (Shu) Ngo and Dr Adam Walker were the recipients of last year’s NTI research grant, which was funded through the auction of NTI’s 2020 restoration truck.

“We’re growing mini-3D spinal cords in a dish and we’re studying these spinal cords to see how motor neurones die when we generate spinal cords from people who are living with MND compared with people who don’t have MND,” Dr Ngo said.

“I think it’s really important that we can find a way to stop the disease first so that people who are living with MND can have a better quality of life and a longer life, and then maybe we can look at reversing the disease.”

NTI CEO Tony Clark said the company supports research into MND as a legacy to late CEO Wayne Patterson, who was diagnosed in 2015 and later lost his battle.

“It’s a way of raising MND awareness and the industry has been fantastic in supporting NTI’s commitment. Our industry partners have never hesitated each and every time we have asked for their help in this great cause,” Mr Clark said.