The Kambah man was just 20 when he was photographed by The Canberra Times at the 1990 welcome-home parade in Civic after the Raiders' grand-final victory against the Penrith Panthers.

The sign he held up in jubilation was a classic: "Panthers Powerless Over Rampaging Raiders ... Sucko".

The Canberra Times published the picture on its Facebook page this week ahead of the Raiders do-or-die final against the Panthers at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

We asked if anyone knew the identity of this great Raiders fan and were quickly told it was Brian, well-known around Canberra, especially Kambah.

He is still an avid supporter of the Raiders and in the last year or so they have come to be more important to him than ever.

Born with intellectual disabilities, Brian has led a healthy active life for most of his 46 years, including 25 years working at the Kambah depot of Territory and Municipal Services. He'd mainly clean up around the parks and local shops, picking up rubbish.

Eighteen months ago he started feeling twinges in his hand. He was diagnosed last September with Motor Neurone Disease, a progressive, terminal neurological disease. There is no cure. The average life expectancy is 2.5 years, according to Motor Neurone Disease Australia.

In the last six months, Brian has lost movement in his arms, legs and body.

It has been a devastating blow. Brian had been living independently for a couple of years. Now he is back living with his 78-year-old mum, who is there for him 24/7.

He gave up his Raiders membership because it was too difficult to attend the home games. But he'll never miss a game on TV.

Brian can still talk in a whisper. And he's still cheeky.

Ask him what's good about the Raiders and he'll answer: "They're winning."

As the disease has gripped his body, Brian has looked to to the Green Machine to provide him with not only entertainment, but a real sense of joy.

Brian only understands that he is sick. His family has chosen not to tell him that he has motor neurone disease or about its inevitable, cruel conclusion. They want him to live in the here and now and enjoy life while he can.

And a lot of that is down to the Raiders. Brian was selected to help toss the coin at the opening game of the season – again against the Panthers – using a two-up-style paddle to do it when he had a little bit more mobility.

Coach Ricky Stuart also made a surprise, unheralded visit to Brian's Kambah unit during the season to speak to him and very quietly offer him some strength.

"We didn't tell Brian he was coming. When Ricky walked through the door, he was just so surprised," Brian's sister Leanne Dewhurst said.

"Ricky is an amazing person. He just went out of his way and made time for Brian."

Brian's family gave permission for his condition to be discussed in this article in the hope it would draw more attention to the plight of people living with MND. Brian is supported very much by Leanne, who visits every second week from Melbourne to help their mother, and his other sister Kerrie King, who every morning brings him a takeaway coffee that he sips through a straw. Brother David is also a tower of strength. And there are always the Raiders.

"They're his world. It's all he has now," Leanne said.

Brian has only one wish for the Raiders on Saturday night. "To win," he said.