A myriad of masked medicos will come together on Saturday to celebrate a major milestone of a Tamworth surgeon, while also wrapping their arms around him following a heartbreaking Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis.
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The Town Hall will be packed to the rafters for the Fight MND Masquerade Ball on Saturday night, where more than 120 family, friends, colleagues and community members will celebrate 20 years of Dr David Healey's orthopaedic achievements, while raising funds to "beat the beast."
Dr Healey moved to Tamworth from Canada just four years ago, hoping to share his expertise and experience with the next generation of surgeons, before an MND diagnosis late last year rocked his world, and that of his family.
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Recently Dr Healey returned home to Canada to see family and friends, and also underwent a controversial cutting-edge stem cell transplant.
"It is meant to be four to six weeks before you see any benefits, but after two weeks my legs do feel a bit stronger - although that is subjective this soon," he said.
"With an MND diagnosis you take what you can get, and I am willing to try anything to fight this, and beat it - the research is getting closer and closer every day and I won't stop fighting."
Fellow surgeon Janice Cudmore organised the ball in the space of just four weeks, and has even bigger plans for a huge American-style BBQ day in November.
"It was devastating news, but I have been full of admiration for Dave - he is such a good bloke," she said.
"I really wanted to do something for him, particularly to help him celebrate 20 years - we forget to celebrate these achievements some times, but it is important.
"Dave wants to keep working, and helping people for as long as he can, because that's all he knows - so let's celebrate that."
Later this month, Dr Healey's daughter Lauren is taking on the Run Melbourne event for team Fight MND, and has already raised $33,000 for the cause.