CREUTZFELDT-JAKOB disease, also known as CJD, is a rare brain disorder that leads to dementia and belongs to a group of human and animal diseases known as prion disorders.

Symptoms of CJD can be similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease, but CJD usually gets worse much faster and leads to death.

Wannon MP, Dan Tehan said he was joining a group of 11 runners from south-west Victoria who will be running from Canberra to Warrnambool to raise much-needed funds to help with research and assist in clinical trials.

“I’m going to be one of them, because we’ve got parents who died of that disease,” he said.

“We have lost family members, friends, fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters to this cruel disease and we want to help raise awareness and break down the stigma.”

Mr Tehan’s mother died of the disease at 64, and his aunt at only 40 years old.

The CJD Support Group Network is sponsoring the run; it provides information and support to families who are caring for or coming to terms with the loss of a loved one to CJD and assists people who are at increased risk of CJD to receive equity of care when disclosing their at-risk-of CJD status.