NTI is using a restored 1947 Chevrolet Maple Leaf truck as the focus of its 2026 charity raffle, continuing a long-running motor neurone disease (MND) fundraising program tied to the insurer’s heavy motor portfolio.
The transport and logistics specialist insurer has unveiled “Ruby,” a custom-built 1947 Chevrolet Maple Leaf, as the vehicle to be raffled in support of the MND and Me Foundation. The initiative extends a campaign that has raised more than $3 million for research since 2017, with all proceeds directed to the NTI Research Grant for MND. Ruby is the ninth truck NTI has rebuilt and raffled under the program. The vehicle combines a heritage cab and body with contemporary running gear, aligning the project with NTI’s exposure to commercial motor and heavy vehicle risks.
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The truck is powered by a Hino 4‑litre turbo diesel engine on Hino 4x4 running gear. It is fitted with front and rear disc brakes with anti-lock braking, vehicle stability control, and traction control, along with an exhaust brake and multi‑leaf spring suspension. The drivetrain includes a six‑speed manual transmission, a 6‑tonne electric winch, and a 3.5‑tonne tow bar. Inside the cab, Ruby is specified with electric windows, air conditioning, a touchscreen media system, and a reversing camera, bringing the restored vehicle closer to the equipment profile of modern fleet assets. The raffle sits alongside NTI’s core heavy motor offering, using a classic truck build and national event schedule as the framework for an annual charity draw.
NTI chief executive officer Janelle Greene said the MND initiative remains closely connected to the experience of former CEO Wayne Patterson, who died from the disease in 2018. “Every day, MND claims the lives of two Australians, and another two are diagnosed. That’s why this work is so important. NTI became involved with MND after our former CEO, Wayne Patterson, was diagnosed with the disease and later passed away. Wayne is widely regarded as the leader who created the modern NTI, and we wanted to honour his legacy in a meaningful way. Our approach of restoring and raffling classic trucks has brought together our people, partners, customers, and the broader community in an incredible show of support. To have raised more than $3 million for MND research is something everyone involved should be immensely proud of. I think Wayne would be amazed and humbled by what this initiative has achieved. It’s a legacy that continues to drive us forward,” Greene said. Funds raised through the raffle are channelled via the NTI MND Research Grant to Australian research organisations working on potential treatments and cures.
MND and Me Foundation CEO Jane Milne said NTI’s contribution supports both research activity and day-to-day assistance for people living with MND. “Our mission is to care and to cure. We support people and their families and carers from the moment they are diagnosed through to end-of-life care. This can include everything from equipment and home modifications to psychological and grief counselling. On the research side, consistent funding through the NTI MND Research Grant has been critical, enabling leading institutions such as the University of Queensland, the Queensland Brain Institute, and the Clive Berghofer Medical Research Institute to undertake vital work in the search for a cure or effective treatments. That certainty of ongoing funding allows researchers to get their teeth stuck into large-scale, meaningful projects that can truly make a difference,” Milne said.
Ruby succeeds NTI’s 2025 MND fundraiser, which offered a Toyota Tundra hybrid ute, nicknamed “Dusty,” paired with a New Age Manta Ray 19‑foot off‑road expedition caravan. Hobart-based policyholder Robert Monks held the winning ticket for the 2025 draw, conducted at the NTI Townsville 500 in July. He and his wife, Kylie, collected the ute and caravan from NTI’s Brisbane head office before driving the combination back to Tasmania, a journey of about 2,500 kilometres. According to NTI, the MND raffle has raised almost $3 million since inception, with the 2025 campaign contributing $468,000 to that total.
Ruby is scheduled to appear at several public events as part of the 2026 campaign, including Downunder Beachfest at Caloundra in May and Cooly Rocks On in June. The raffle draw is set to take place at the NTI Townsville 500 on July 12, 2026. Tickets are available online via Raffletix, subject to the platform’s terms and conditions. Greene said participation in the raffle is drawn from across Australia. “We’re grateful that so many people around the country join us each year in the hopes of winning an exciting prize, but more importantly to work towards better treatments and a cure for Australians diagnosed with MND. Each day, two lives are lost to MND in Australia and two new cases are diagnosed. We hope our fundraiser will help researchers in their quest to crack the code of MND. Thank you to all our partners, supporters, and ticketholders for making this year’s event another great success,” Greene said.
