The South West’s Big Freeze Fight for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) lived up to its name for participants and supporters alike as outside temperatures dropped to single figures in Camperdown on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But it was colder in the water with one tonne of ice reducing the temperature to minus 2 degrees Celsius for the 10 participants.
The big freeze and a silent auction at the Leura Oval raised more than $27,000 for Motor Neurone Disease at the Hampden Football Netball League game between Camperdown and Cobden. The final tally is expected to rise with donations still coming in.
The event was organised by the South West’s Big Freeze co-ordinator Tracey Telford and friends Danielle Clark and Sarah Dunn, whose father died of the disease.
Mrs Telford said they were overwhelmed with the support for the event, which mirrors the fundraiser organised by former Melbourne AFL coach and MND sufferer Neale Daniher.
“It was like ice,” Mrs Telford said. "You just had to walk outside. It was definitely the big freeze without going in the water. We had a water temperature gauge and it was minus 2. It was freezing. It’s been a great turnout. We’ve been absolutely rapt.”
They have held MND fundraisers for the past four years but this was the first big freeze event. “We got an absolutely massive turnout. It’s been amazing, absolutely amazing.” Based on its success, she said they were keen to host another. “We’ll absolutely do it again. We’ll be looking for another club to host us next year.”
