Liz

Liz is a mum of three children whose world revolves around school timetables, weekend sport and the steady rhythm of family life. She works at Bunnings, a job she genuinely enjoys, and measures her days by something simple: showing up where she is needed.

Nearly two years ago, she was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

Motor Neurone Disease gradually affects muscle control and mobility. Movements that once required no thought now require planning. Energy must be managed carefully, and everyday tasks take longer than they used to.

Reflecting on the past two years, Liz puts it plainly.

“Going on two years. It’s been a lot to adapt to. Everything’s so much harder now.”

There are things she misses. Running alongside her kids. Kicking a soccer ball without hesitation. Walking along the beach without calculating the effort involved. The freedom of not thinking twice.

Since her diagnosis, her capacity to work has reduced significantly and the financial impact has followed. Plans to purchase a newer vehicle that better suited her family’s needs were paused as rising living costs and rental increases tightened the margin for anything unexpected.

She now finds herself back in the rental market, navigating uncertainty on more than one front.

But her priorities have not shifted. Family still comes first.

A Quiet Strength

When Liz received the call to say she had been nominated for Cars for Good, she did not assume anything beyond a kind conversation.

“What a lovely surprise it was to receive your call. It honestly made my day regardless of the outcome. I’ve since looked up Cars for Good and what an amazing initiative with so many deserving recipients. I honestly don’t feel worthy.”

That response captures her outlook better than any description could.

Liz often describes herself as one of the “luckiest unlucky people.” It is not a contradiction to her. It is simply how she now sees the world. The diagnosis she never expected sits alongside deep gratitude for what remains steady: her children, their routines and the parts of life that still feel familiar.

The past two years have required resilience. Liz does not frame it as bravery. Instead, she talks about perspective, about adjusting and about continuing to be present even when things become harder.

Her strength is quiet. It shows up in patience, consistency and the decision to keep moving forward.

She hopes her children see that when life changes, you adapt and keep showing up.

A Vehicle That Protects Independence

As Liz’s mobility has changed, getting in and out of her current vehicle has become increasingly difficult. What was once automatic now requires more effort and care. She shared that her current car is a manual, something that has become increasingly challenging as her condition affects strength and coordination.

In her household, transport is not optional. School runs, medical appointments, work shifts and driving lessons shape their week. Without a reliable and accessible vehicle, everything becomes more complicated.

A safer, more practical car would ease daily strain and reduce financial pressure at a time when both matter deeply.

Through Cars for Good, the easyauto123 Cannington team gifted Liz and her family a 2018 Mitsubishi ASX.

For Liz, the vehicle represents more than reliability. It provides breathing room. Having an automatic vehicle now makes everyday driving simpler and less physically demanding. It means her children can begin learning to drive in a car that is safe and dependable, and it removes some of the compromises that have quietly built up during an already demanding period of life. With her eldest daughter now 18 and starting to drive, the car also provides an important layer of independence for the family. It means she can help with everyday trips when needed, giving Liz reassurance that the household can stay mobile even as things change.

When the vehicle was revealed, the reaction was quiet. There was a pause before the gratitude settled in.

When asked what the car would mean for her family, Liz answered simply.

“It would just put a smile on our faces.”

The car does not change her diagnosis, and it does not remove the uncertainty that comes with Motor Neurone Disease. What it does change is the everyday.

It allows Liz to continue driving her children where they need to be, attend appointments with less strain and get to work with greater ease. Most importantly, it helps her remain independent for longer.

For Liz and her family, the vehicle simply means that daily life becomes a little easier to manage.

And right now, that matters a great deal.