By Ethan Benedicto
The Berwick Junior Football Club held its third annual FightMND Big Freeze event on the night of Sunday 16 June, raising $10,750 as well as breaking the national record for largest simultaneous ice bucket challenges.
Previously sitting at 107 participants, the BJFC is now holds the new record with 252 people for the Largest Simultaneous Ice Bucket Challenge.
BJFC club president Kate Murphy said “we are so proud to be able to give back to fight MND and support this charity”.
However, the fight against MND began long before the night’s charity event, with all 22 teams in BJFC donning FightMND socks during their games throughout the day.
“A huge thank you needs to go to all of our committee for their tireless work in organising this event,” Ms Murphy said.
Some prominent figures were also in attendance, namely Jan Daniher who was the club’s special guest for the night.
Berwick MP Brad Battin also took part in the event, braving the slide and cold temperatures once more in “what a couple of freezing weeks it has been locally to take up the fight against the beast”.
“From Beaconsfield Junior Football Club Big Freeze Slide all the way to arch-rival Berwick Junior Football Club who all were fighting for the one cause, victory in research to find a cure for MND,” Mr Battin said.
Bruce MP Julian Hill was also one of the guests and sliders for the event, with the charity night bearing more meaning with his close friend and Sate MP Emma Vulin being diagnosed with motor neurone disease this year.
“Berwick Springs Junior Football Club are to be congratulated for this great initiative, raising money for MND research.
“I’d be happy to help at any time, but it means even more to me as a dear friends, State MP Emma Vulin was recently diagnosed with MND; I’ve known Emma since she was 11 years old and it’s devastating news of a horrible disease,” Mr Hill said.
A plaque with a certificate was awarded to the BJFC to commemorate the night’s achievement, as well as a flag by the Australian Book of Records placed on the field.
