Category: Big Freeze

Big Freeze 9 goes Interstate!

The Big Freeze 9 is heading West!

This June 3rd, we’re calling on West Australians to don their Beanies at Optus Stadium and watch the West Coast vs. Collingwood match in support of fighting the Beast that is MND.

To raise awareness and vital funds for MND research, this year’s Big Freeze is heading to Perth where you can watch some iconic WA personalities (soon to be announced!) be plunged into an icy dunk tank at half and third quarter time.

Our FightMND Army and fantastic volunteers will be out and about selling Beanies and tin shaking for donations, so don’t forget to say hi!

This year, we’re going all in – can’t wait to see you there!

Match Details:

West Coast Eagles vs Collingwood Magpies

Optus Stadium

Gates open 12:30 pm Saturday 3rd June

Big Freeze 9 Launches with Larger than Life Unveiling

The Big Freeze is back for its ninth consecutive year, and this year we’re going all in!

On May 11th, FightMND proudly launched Big Freeze 9, this year’s exclusive and limited-edition Beanie and unveiled an exciting addition to officially kick things off. In honour of FightMND’s inspirational co-founder and ambassador, a larger-than-life portrait of Neale Daniher has been revealed in Turner Alley, just off Swanston Street in Melbourne’s CBD.

The portrait was painted by multi-award-winning artist and friend of the Daniher family, Vincent Fantauzzo. At 7 feet tall and 16 feet wide, it stands as a beacon of Neale’s strength as we continue our fight against the Beast.

As the second portrait of Neale Daniher that Vincent has painted, he wrote on Instagram how honoured he felt to produce the piece and stand in solidarity with Neale in his fight against the Beast.

Since 2014, FightMND has invested over $69.3 million into game-changing MND research around Australia, and across the world. Now, more Australians than ever have increased access to clinical trials, as positive momentum in the sector continues to build.

But vital research is both expensive and time-consuming, so our fight is far from over.

It’s time to go all in to beat the Beast – you can help us make a difference by going #allinforMND and buying a beanie here, or by making a donation here.

More information about this year’s Big Freeze can be found here.

 

 

 

Pedalling 27 hours straight to raise funds for MND research

This October, 450 people will continuously pedal 17 spin bikes on the Glenelg Foreshore for a consecutive 27 hours to help find a cure for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Now in its third year, the Sister Love 27-Hour Spin event is part of FightMND’s national 27 Challenge (27 Sep – 27 Nov) campaign where people across Australia are encouraged to set a physical activity challenge that incorporates the number 27 while raising funds for MND research and care.

The average life expectancy of a person living with MND is only 27 months and there is no effective treatment or cure.

Running from 1pm, Saturday 29 October through to 4pm, Sunday 30 October, the Sister Love 27-Hour Spin event will be held at the Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club where 17 teams made up of 27 people will cycle continuously on spin-bikes provided by Studio360 Cycle.

This year’s event is hoping to raise more than $100,000, after raising $93,000 last year.

Sister Love 27 Hour Spin is the brainchild of Bronwyn Watt, who lost her sister to MND in June 2022.

“My sister Jenny was diagnosed with MND in April 2020 and I wanted to do something to raise money to help find a cure,” Bronwyn Watt said.

“While a cure didn’t come in time for my sister, we need to keep raising funds for MND research so that people living with MND have hope,” Bronwyn Watt said.

FightMND CEO Dr. Fiona McIntosh recognized the commitment Bronwyn and everyone taking part and supporting Sister Love 27 Hour Spin.

“It is only through the support of our passionate community fundraisers like Bronwyn – that we can make a meaningful impact in the fight against the Beast that is MND,” Dr. McIntosh said.

“All funds raised through Sister Love 27 Hour Spin will be invested in cutting-edge research to find effective treatments and a cure for MND as well as care initiative to improve the lives of people living with MND.”

“Every dollar counts in the fight against the Beast – so if you can, please show your support for Sister Love 27 Hour Spin or set your own 27 Challenge today.”

Spots are still available for individuals or teams in the Sister Love 27 Hour Spin challenge. For more information or to take part, visit https://www.facebook.com/sisterlove27hourspin/.

To donate and support the event, please visit: https://hub.fightmnd.org.au/27-challenge-2022/sister-love-27-hour-spin-fightmnd

For more information about the FightMND 27 Challenge, please visit: https://27challenge.fightmnd.org.au/.

Daniher’s Drive returns to the road this October

After two years of delays, a convoy of 80 cars carrying more than 300 participants will journey through regional Victoria raising awareness and funds for FightMND as part of this year’s Daniher’s Drive.

Set to take place from Thursday 13 October to Sunday 16 October 2022, the seventh Daniher’s Drive will travel 895 kilometres through the towns of Myrtleford and Bright, over the Great Dividing Range to Lakes Entrance and Warragul.

It will mark the first time in two years that the popular Drive event has returned to the road, with the opportunity to visit regional communities and support their recovery from the 2020 bushfires and the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns.

In addition to nightly events and community activities along the route, the Drive also offers a special chance to connect with regional families who have been touched by Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

From what started as a quest to raise awareness of MND in regional Victoria has since grown into a marquee regional fundraiser drawing participants from all over Australia.

A proud cornerstone of Daniher’s Drive is fundraising, with each team raising a minimum of $5000 to take part. However, many of the Drive teams, some returning for their fifth or sixth Drive, consistently exceed that target. This year, the event hopes to raise more than $1,000,000 for the fight against MND.

For the first time, Jayco, Australia’s most popular brand of RVs, has stepped up to help Drive participants raise funds by generously donating a Jayco Starcraft Bushpack Caravan 2022 valued at $61,990 (RRP) as the major prize for the Daniher’s Drive raffle.

With tickets costing $50 each, the Daniher’s Drive raffle will run from 13 July 2022 to 14 October 2022 and is open to residents in Victoria, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Tickets for the Daniher’s Drive raffle are available online here. 

All funds raised through the raffle will not only support Daniher’s Drive but help fund urgent MND research and care for those living with MND.

FightMND Campaigns Director Bec Daniher said she was excited to see the Drive back on the road after two years of COVID-related setbacks.

“I can’t wait to take the fight against MND on the road again to visit these resilient regional towns who have been impacted so much over the past two years.” Bec Daniher said.

“The people who take part in Daniher’s Drive are like one big family – this event has been more than two years in the making so I have no doubt it’s going to be a reunion and celebration to remember,” she said.

“But before we get to the start line, there’s plenty of work to be done which is why it’s great to have the support of Gerry Ryan and Jayco as our Drive teams work hard to raise much-needed funds to help find a cure for this Beast of a disease.”

Jayco National Sales Manager, Scott Jones said that for Jayco, it’s really important that they give back to the community.

“We’re honoured to be part of FightMND Daniher’s Drive, which will raise much-needed funds to help cure Motor Neurone Disease, as well as supporting regional communities that have been devastated by floods and fires over the last year,” Mr Jones said.

Daniher’s Drive is also supported by Chemist Warehouse, the Victorian State Government, PSC Insurance, Bayside Coaches and CMV Trucks & Buses.

Big Freeze 8 raises record-breaking $19.8 million for FightMND

The eighth Big Freeze has broken another record in its fundraising for FightMND, generating $19.8 million for the national charity.

Announced on Global MND Awareness Day 2022, the funds, generated through the sale of Big Freeze beanies, donations and community fundraising efforts will be invested, almost immediately, in vital research to find effective treatments and a cure for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

This year marked the first time in two years that FightMND’s Big Freeze event, including the celebrity ice slide, was held at the MCG on Queen’s Birthday Monday, in front of a crowd of nearly 80,000 people.

Local communities, schools and sporting clubs across the country have also been hosting their own DIY Big Freeze fundraising events in support of the cause.

FightMND Campaigns Director Bec Daniher was overwhelmed by the support and ongoing generosity of the Australian public and the wider FightMND Army.

“I can’t help but get emotional thinking about the overwhelming support for the Big Freeze. It’s remarkable to think how this campaign has been embraced by the entire community and is now raising millions for much-needed MND research,” Ms Daniher said.

“From the March to the ‘G, to the slide and sea of blue beanies covering every corner of the MCG, Big Freeze 8 was an unforgettable day for so many reasons and to do it all with my dad by side made it even more special.”

“Thank you to everyone who supported this campaign. We know that our job is not done until we defeat this Beast, but with every dollar raised, we’re taking another step closer to a cure for MND,” Ms Daniher added.

FightMND CEO Dr Fiona McIntosh said that FightMND was honoured to be able to make today’s Big Freeze 8 fundraising tally announcement on Global MND Awareness Day – further cementing the organisation’s position as one of the world’s largest independent funders of MND research.

“MND is relentless – it knows no borders and touches every corner of our community. We are extremely proud to announce that Australians have helped raised $19.8 million for the fight against MND on Global MND Awareness Day.”

“Research continues to be our best weapon against this Beast. By funding innovative and urgent research both at home and abroad, we’re increasing our chances of finding better treatments or a cure sooner,” Dr McIntosh said.

“Every day, we are learning more about the disease and how best to fight it. We don’t know when the big breakthrough will come, but when it does, every single person who bought a beanie or donated to FightMND can know that they played a part in making it happen.”

Since 2014, FightMND has invested $55.9 million in MND research, including 12 clinical trials and 22 drug development projects both in Australia and globally.

As part of the Big Freeze, the Victorian State Government announced a generous $250,000 donation, with the Federal Government also announcing $4 million in funding for FightMND.

AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan said he was thrilled to hear about the generosity of football fans in supporting FightMND and getting behind the Big Freeze.

“It was so inspiring looking out across the MCG at The Big Freeze and seeing close to 80,000 football fans all united with a sea of blue beanies. As a football community, we’re incredibly proud of the important work that FightMND continues to do and celebrate this recording-breaking milestone in donations.” Mr McLachlan said.

FightMND’s partners are integral to the success of the Big Freeze 8, and this year was no different.

Coles Express Executive General Manager Michael Courtney said Coles was delighted to have raised more than $8.5 million in six weeks at Coles supermarkets and Coles Express stores.

“Our team members, customers and Aussie pork farmers are incredibly passionate about raising funds to help find a cure and better treatments for MND and it’s now our single biggest fundraising campaign at Coles,” Mr Courtney said.

“Through the sale of beanies and Coles’ pork, we’ve raised more funds than ever before and from inner-city Melbourne to Albany in rural Western Australia, our team members have been pulling off their own ice bucket challenges in stores, car parks and support centres.”

Bunnings Managing Director Mike Schneider said that Bunnings was humbled to be part of the most successful Big Freeze to date.

“We are really humbled to have played a part in supporting FightMND’s biggest and best Big Freeze campaign yet,” Mr Schneider said.

“It has been great to see our team and customers passionately get behind fighting the Beast and proudly wearing their beanies throughout the campaign.”

“Thank you to everyone that bought a beanie from their local Bunnings and helped us contribute to this important cause, MND is a brutal disease and the incredible amount of funds and awareness raised take FightMND a step closer to finding a cure,” Mr Schneider added.

FightMND wants to extend a special thank you to all Big Freeze partners including Coles, Bunnings, the AFL, Federal Government, Victorian State Government, Sportsbet, SEN, the Collingwood Football Club, the Melbourne Football Club, the West Coast Football as well as the wider FightMND Army and volunteers for their tireless support of this year’s record-breaking campaign.

Big Freeze 8 beanies are on sale in Coles Express stores until June 29 and Bunnings stores until June 30.

Crowds return to the ‘G for Big Freeze 8

FightMND’s Big Freeze continues to raise awareness and much-needed funds to ‘beat the beast’ with the charity today raising more than $2 million in community funding before the Federal Government added $4 million to a record-breaking tally.

Contributions also came from the Victorian State Government, adding $250,000 to the cause which meant that FightMND’s ‘$2 million by Monday’ campaign exceeded its fundraising target before the end of the first quarter at today’s clash between the Collingwood Football Club and Melbourne Football Club.

It was a sea of blue Big Freeze beanies as nearly 80,000 fans rallied together, in a strong show of support for football legend Neale Daniher’s charity, FightMND.

Today also marked the first time that the Big Freeze match has been played at the MCG in two years.

Neale Daniher AO, who is battling MND, was joined by his family before the game at Federation Square to lead Melbourne FC fans in the March to the ‘G along Daniher’s Way.

Not to be outdone, Collingwood fans converged on the MCG from the Collingwood Community Festival at the AIA Centre which also played host to a Big Freeze netball game between Collingwood and the Melbourne Vixens.

Broadcast on the Seven Network nationally, the Big Freeze 8 festivities kicked off at the ground from 2 pm with a performance by Chris Cheney from The Living End before 10 courageous celebrity sliders faced Australia’s coldest ice bath.

Decked in costumes based on their favourite movie moments, this year’s star-studded cast of sliders (in sliding order) included Eddie Betts (Black Panther), Rhonda Burchmore (Poison Ivy), Andy Maher (Radar – M.A.S.H), Jakara Anthony (Katniss Everdeen), Hamish Blake (Elsa, Frozen), Terry Daniher (Crocodile Dundee), Justin Langer (Rocky Balboa), David Neitz (William Wallace, Braveheart), Bec Maddern (Trinity, Matrix) and Ash Barty (Rafiki, Lion King).

Neale and Bec Daniher were on hand to send the celebrities down the slide into the icy pool – which took 600 bags of ice to fill and was a cool -3 degrees.

Funds raised through the Big Freeze are invested in vital MND research to find effective treatments and a cure for the terminal illness which has an average life expectancy of only 27 months.

FightMND Campaigns Director Bec Daniher said that it was incredible to see the MCG turn blue once again.

“The Big Freeze is back, and we are so fortunate to have such incredible support from across the entire community – we turned the MCG blue,” she said.

“While there may be two clubs playing out there today, it’s clear that there is one team, unified and determined in the fight against this Beast of a disease.”

We are constantly humbled and overwhelmed by the generosity of the Australian public. To reach our $2 million target before quarter time is amazing and we can’t thank everyone enough.”

“To have my Dad by my side today is very special – he is honestly my hero. Marching with him, standing with him at the slide, and then being on the ground with all his grandkids running around is a memory I’ll treasure for a long time. He is so strong, positive and determined.”

Ash Barty, who went down the slide dressed as Rafiki from the Lion King, with Simba in tow, said that it’s hard not to be inspired by Neale Daniher.

“This day is for him [Neale] and this day is because of him. The way Neale can bring awareness to an incredible beast of a disease, and the way he is able to fight inspires not only Australians but people all the way around the world. He’s created an opportunity for us to do our part in helping find a solution, so this is all for Neale. There are incredible people who want to be involved because he is an exceptional man,” Barty said.

More than 100 people have now gone down the Big Freeze slide since it first began –  Neale’s Captain at the Melbourne Football Club for nearly a decade, and one of his closest friends, 300-gamer David Neitz having the honour of being the Big Freeze’s 100th slider.

“Braveheart was an absolute nod to Neale; he is the bravest man I know and what he is doing to fight this beast and inspire so many people is enormous. This is right up there as a special moment to be here at the MCG with Neale fighting for his cause,” Neitz said.

FightMND would like to thank our major partners – Coles, Bunnings and the AFL, as well as the Federal Government and Victorian State Government for their support of this year’s campaign. Just as importantly, we’d like to thank the FightMND Army, including our amazing volunteers for the ongoing support of the fight to find a cure.