July 29th, 2026MND Beast Challenge: One Man. One Bike. One Fight.

When Komatsu’s Nigel Howard found out that his friend and mentor, forest industry icon Col McCulloch had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease, it didn’t take him long to realise that being frustrated couldn’t help. The best thing he could do was to get on his bike and do something useful.

Next month, Nigel will set off on his BMW GS 1300 Adventure to undertake a 20,000 km, 38-day motorbike trip around Australia aiming to raise $150,000 for the fight against MND. As well as raising vital funds, Nigel is looking to start conversations and bring the timber and forestry community together.
“Col told me about his diagnosis over a coffee. Like a lot of people I’d heard of MND but the reality didn’t really set in until we talked,” he said. “When I started having conversations with other people in the industry, I discovered Col’s story isn’t unique – far too many people have a mate, a parent, a colleague or a spouse afflicted by the beast.”
Nigel said it was an easy decision to bring together his passions of motorbike riding and the forest and timber community to plan the MND Beast Challenge.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned working in forestry, it’s that people show up when they’re needed. Every kilometre I ride is for people like Col, for families living with MND and for the hope that one day research can provide the answers we’re looking for.”
Nigel knows that one bloke on a motorbike isn’t going to cure the disease. But if the MND Beast Challenge can raise awareness, raise funds and get more people talking about the disease, then it will be worth every kilometre. He sets off from Daylesford on Thursday, August 20.
To learn more about the MND Beast Challenge and to make a donation, head to www.mndbeastchallenge.com.au/