America’s Cup: Emirates Team New Zealand director Greg Horton takes on MND 10 years after diagnosis

His wife Shelley explained part of the reason Greg has been able to live with MND for so long is because of the specific type he has.

Lawyer and Team New Zealand Board member Greg Horton with his wife Shelley. Photo / Dean Purcell

The most common sort of MND is ALS, she says, which affects “upper and lower” neurones that send messages to intentional muscles such as hands and legs, as well as unintentional muscles such as lungs.

“… that’s where people lose the ability to control their intentional muscles but also start to fail to be able to breathe properly and unfortunately that’s what leads most often to people passing away.

Greg Horton was diagnosed with MND 10 years ago. Photo / Dean Purcell

“Some people like Greg only have half of that, so his unintentional muscles are still okay but his intentional muscles will not be getting the signals through.”

Greg has been able to continue working as a lawyer, but he has also been a director and board member of Emirates Team New Zealand for 12 years.

“I help out with a lot of the legal work,” he said of the America’s Cup team.

He has also travelled extensively with the team, including a recent trip to Italy, something Shelley said the pair love to do.

Greg Horton (front row, second from the left) celebrated with Emirates Team New Zealand on stage after they won the America’s Cup in 2021. Photo / Photosport

“We just make it work,” she said, “with technology you’ve got carbon wheelchairs so they’re lighter, you can do that.

“Most countries are pretty good, whenever we travel with Emirates Team New Zealand, of course, the team are amazing.

“Greg’s part of the team so there’s always help if we need it.”

Greg and Shelley said the team feels like family to them and everyone from him to skipper Nathan Outteridge have a role to play in their victories.

Greg Horton continues to be involved with Emirates Tam New Zealand and work as a lawyer despite his diagnosis. Photo / Dean Purcell

Greg said he’ll be in Naples to watch the team defend their title and was confident they can bring the Auld Mug home.

“Of course we’ll win,” he said.

However, he still faces significant challenges, particularly around his speech and with how tired he becomes while working.

Technology has helped Greg to overcome some barriers, particularly with his speech.

“He uses a lot of voice recognition technology,” Shelley said.

Greg Horton uses various technologies to help him communicate while working. Photo / Dean Purcell

“The great thing with technology nowadays is you’ve got a lot of Zoom calls and you can just type at the same time, so Greg’s managed to continue to do international negotiations and everything by using technology which is all online, which is amazing.

“The hard thing is people with motor neurone disease get very tired because the effort it takes is just enormous.

“To walk a few steps if people are able to walk it would be same as running 10 kilometres, so they often need to rest.”

Former South Sydney Rabbitohs player Jai Arrow revealed he had been diagnosed with MND and forced to retire from rugby league in May, while the NRL and his former club have looked at fundraising plans around the player and the disease in July.

Former Queensland Maroons and South Sydney Rabbitohs player Jai Arrow revealed his MND diagnosis in May. Photo / Getty Images

Greg and Shelley said they would encourage Arrow and anyone else who is battling MND to be positive and have as much fun while they can.

“Be positive and live for now and have fun for now because everyone on the MND journey is very different,” Shelley said.

“And we’ve had a number of friends we’ve now made have passed away and unfortunately everyone does have a different journey.

Greg and Shelley still travel with Emirates Team New Zealand to international events. Photo / Dean Purcell

“And one of the hardest things with MND is you really don’t know what your journey’s going to be like and no professional can tell you what it’s going to be like.”

Greg and Shelley have worked closely with charity MND New Zealand over the past decade, becoming friends with people around the country diagnosed with the disease and helping to find ways to give people their independence for as long as possible.

The couple advised anyone living with the disease, whether they are diagnosed with it or are a close family member, to talk to other people and find the support they need.

Greg and Shelley have worked with charity MND New Zealand over the past decade, helping others impacted by the condition. Photo / Dean Purcell

“Reach out to the MND Society because there are other people who join this horrible club who know what people who are getting diagnosed are going through,” Shelley said.

“There’s not many people but there are some people who understand and it’s an incredibly difficult diagnosis and eventually you just have to find some positivity and find something to look forward to, something that brings you joy.”