Mungindi rallies behind Jakins family

For the challenge, which sparked the involvement of 60,000 Australians, people nominated their friends to video themselves being drenched with icy cold water and share on social media.

The icy activity was designed to raise awareness and funds for motor neurone disease (MND), encouraging each person to donate $2 to the cause.

Thankfully, it did just that, because MND's statistics are just as chilling:

Mungindi beef and grains producer Geoff Jakins thought he was making a simple trip to the doctor for a pinched nerve in his neck when he was diagnosed with MND in January.

At 48 years old, the former Toowoomba Grammar School student is described as a "typical farmer"; a physically strong man who "hates the limelight".

Now, as his muscles begin to deteriorate from the disease, his legs are getting heavy.

His wife, Michelle Kennedy, first came across the disease while working as a nurse in western Queensland almost 20 years ago.

She painfully watched as a patient progressively lost the use of her limbs and ability to speak, swallow and breathe.

"It's so hard because their brain is functioning, but their whole body is shutting down on them," Michelle said.

She never thought it'd strike so close to home.

Geoff and Michelle have a six-year-old son, Jack.

In a cruel blow for any family, he was diagnosed with Dravet syndrome after having seizures from the age of five months.

The syndrome is a severe form of epilepsy and Jack requires 24-hour care. He also has major developmental delays and is "still a happy little boy."

But talking to Michelle and family friends, this story is not about them.

It's a story of a community banding together to support a family enduring significant hardship.

It's a story about smiling in the face of adversity and appreciating the beauty of life.

The family have been overwhelmed with the support of the community since Geoff was diagnosed with MND.

Geoff would like to remain on the family property, Dellapool, 15 kilometres north of Mungindi, for as long as he can.

The community quickly responded by organising a number of fundraising activities to support the family.

This included starting an online crowd funding campaign, which raised almost $50,000 in five days.

"We are very humbled from the care shown by our community and everyone else who has reached out to our family," Michelle said.

"I've so had many people come up to me saying 'we didn't realise the extent of motor neurone disease'."

The family is also well-supported by their own families, all of whom are highly involved in their own communities.

Geoff is a son of Brian and Berice Jakins, originally from Boomi.

Michelle parents, Colin and Robwyn Kennedy, have retired in Moree after spending most of their lives at Kenmore, near Dirranbandi.

But to cope the way she is and to still be so positive, Michelle is evidently a strong, caring woman.

She puts this down to her background.

"I've seen a lot of suffering through nursing," she said.

"We're not the only family in this district whose members have MND. There are other families out there.

"We're not unique. This disease definitely needs awareness and funds to find a cure."

One of the hardest things for Michelle is wondering how she is "going to manage without Geoff, and Jack not having a dad."

"Jack just absolutely adores daddy," she adds, trying not to tear up.

But as the carer for the two men in her life, she tries not to wonder "why me?"

"I don't have time. Jack keeps me very busy," she said.

"It's luck of the draw. You've just got to make every moment together as a famly count.

"We are in a really good community. We've got a beautiful son. I'm loved by my family, Geoff is loved by his family, we love each other and that's all that matters."

Upcoming events in support of the Jakins family and MND:

Or you can donate to a bank account to support the family directly:

Account name: Jack Jakins

Commonwealth Bank

BSB: 062-692

Account number: 2389-3442