FOLLOWING the overwhelming success of the Big Freeze at the ‘G in 2015, it’s back and even bigger with the Big Freeze 2. The celebrity nominations phase launched Friday June 3rd and kicked off with former Richmond star Matthew Richardson being the first celebrity to be nominated.
Since then, a number of Australia’s biggest celebrities (or sliders as they’re affectionately known) including David Koch, Samantha Armytage, Eddie McGuire have asked the public to donate money to find a cure for MND, and to see them get ‘frozen’. The campaign will culminate with the celebrities being ‘frozen’ on the MCG before the Queen’s Birthday match between Melbourne and Collingwood on Monday 13th June.
As per last year Neale Daniher will lead the ‘Freeze Army’ from Federation Square to the MCG before the game, as part of the AHG Walk to the ‘G. Collingwood supporters will march from the Holden Centre at the same time. These events will be open to supporters from 12.30pm at both venues.
Due to the generous support provided by the AFL CrownBet Community Partnership, together with Melbourne Football Clubs Major Sponsor AHG, the Cure for MND Foundation has been able to commit to every dollar donated being invested into the pursuit of a cure for Motor Neurone Disease
This long weekend a number of iconic buildings and structures will be bathed in cornflower blue to build awareness for the event. There is special significance behind this colour being used by the Cure for MND Foundation. The blue cornflower is the international flower of hope for motor neurone disease. It symbolises courage. It can withstand both frost and drought, and its strong blue colour never fades, no matter what it faces. Like the cornflower, people with MND show tremendous courage and strength of character to cope with this challenging disease.
Says Neale Daniher: "The Cure for MND Foundation are very proud and grateful, not only for the contribution our partners, and supporters have made, but how everyone has sought to further improve our prospects of raising awareness and funds in the pursuit of a cure for MND."
The Cure for MND Foundation, with Neale Daniher as its patron, has three primary aims; to cure, to care and to make aware. The Big Freeze campaign focuses on funding research and raising awareness for Motor Neurone Disease. ‘This is our chance to give hope to MND sufferers around Australia, and the world’ says Neale, ‘We’ve worked hard to get into the game, and we’re fighting back. But our opponent (MND) has never lost and it’s still the first quarter. We need everyone to stand with us and help put the Freeze on MND’.
To donate go to freezemnd.com, or SMS the word FREEZE to 0400 064 064.
A limited number of Big Freeze 2 beanies will be available for purchase in person from 12 noon on Monday at Federation Square or The Holden Centre, Collingwood Football Clubs training and administration base as well as at the MCG.
Neale says ‘MND is a killer, there is no treatment. But every dollar raised in the Big Freeze 2 helps fund Australia’s best and brightest in finding a cure.’
