Family’s loss spurs fundraising efforts

Pharmaceutical research is, in many ways, about hope. As researchers uncover new knowledge about human physiology and work to convert that understanding into new medicines, they are giving hope to people facing illness, disease, congenital conditions and other health issues. Sometimes though, their work has a bitter-sweetness to it. There will always be people for whom those breakthroughs haven’t come soon enough.

For Andy Smith and his parents Christine and Brent, new breakthroughs won’t be able to replace what their family has lost. In June this year, Andy’s sister Teaghan died from an alcohol-induced seizure at the age of 35, after several years of struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD). But in Teaghan’s memory, the Smiths have raised a significant amount of money for research currently being undertaken at Monash that is providing hope for a future medical solution to the same disorder faced by Teaghan.

Mr Smith said he and his family had long believed that his sister needed a medical solution as other types of treatment simply didn’t work for her, despite repeated efforts. When he read an article about Professor Chris Langmead’s research into AUD, he realised that this could be the hope that other families needed.

A study the article referenced was led by MIPS’ Professor Langmead and Dr Langmead, Professor Andrew Lawrence and Dr Leigh Walker at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. Their work has uncovered a potential therapeutic target to treat alcohol use disorder by targeting a specific receptor in the brain.

The researchers found that by targeting the muscarinic M4 receptor in the brain, both habitual drinking and the likelihood to relapse could be improved in those suffering from alcohol addiction.

After Teaghan’s death, Andy said he had people reaching out asking what they could do to help the family.

“My reasoning,” said Andy, “was that they couldn’t do anything for Teaghan.”

But they could put some money into this research, which would help other affected people and change the lives of people who’ve gone through something similar. It’s not a magical switch, but if it can help with suppressing some of these urges, it’s definitely a positive thing.”

Andy set up a GoFundMe appeal, hoping to raise a small amount from friends and family to donate to the ongoing research work of Professor Langmead and his colleagues.

“We did it through social media,” said Andy. “We just did a Facebook post, my mum and dad shared it with the link to the GoFundMe. From there, the fundraiser began to snowball. I was surprised with the people that were donating. It was people I hadn’t spoken to in years and years coming out of the woodwork for it.”

In a short space of time, the GoFundMe appeal raised $17,550 to fund alcohol addiction research in memory of Teaghan. Andy thinks the success of the fundraiser came down to the fact that alcohol issues are relatable for many people. “I think it affects a lot of people and on different scales … there’s a pretty wide spectrum.”

Andy reached out to the researchers at MIPS over LinkedIn, quickly establishing contact and arranged for the donated funds to be transferred. The Smith family hope that their contribution will help other families avoid the pain they went through with Teaghan’s alcohol dependency.

“With Teaghan, we wanted a medical solution and we could never find that … something that would actually have a tangible impact on people with alcoholism,” said Andy. The Smith family had become increasingly frustrated with the lack of funded support available to help Teaghan and the failure of repeated, expensive and unsuccessful attempts at rehabilitation. The medication that was available “just completely didn’t work for her”.

Most of the weight of Teaghan’s addiction fell back on her parents. “My parents found you basically end up having to look after them every day; there’s no one that will go around to the house to check on them or anything like that. There’s no grassroots support. You become a full-time carer.”

Teaghan left behind two young daughters. For Andy, the real tragedy is that they will miss out on a life with their mum. “She was the kindest person, she’d always put people first. She was this beautiful, warm, kind-hearted person that had lots of friends, everyone loved her. And you didn’t see that toward the end.”

Andy and his parents hope that one day Teaghan’s daughters will know that the funds raised in memory of their mum will help other families avoid the same pain.

That would be a fantastic legacy that we could talk about, something they could be proud of.”