MND is a group of diseases linked by the death of the nerve cells that control the muscles enabling movement, speech and our ability to swallow and breathe.
At Coles Seymour, staff members have been putting up their hands to be ‘iced’ upon reaching their nominated fundraising targets, as part of the broader Fight MND Big Freeze fundraiser.
To monitor progress, a tally has been set up on the supermarket’s front wall to see how much more money each staff member needs to raise.
Participating staff members will experience the piercing cold on Tuesday, June 21 at Coles Seymour, and store manager Caz Watson is encouraging the community to get behind the cause.
“We love to push community as a store and a business, and this one in particular is close to the community’s heart,” Ms Watson said.
“With the biggest event for Coles currently under way ... we are challenged to beat last year’s target of just under $30,000.”
Other options are also available for the community to support the Big Freeze campaign. This includes the $25 MND Big Freeze beanies, with 100% of proceeds going to Fight MND, the sale of pork products and donation boxes at the cash register.
The store is also planning to host morning teas, casual dress days and in-store fundraising to support the cause.
In Australia, there are approximately 2000 people who have been diagnosed with MND, with over half aged under 65. According to Fight MND, the estimated cost of living with the disease is $200,000 per year.
All money raised through the Big Freeze campaign and Ice Bucket Challenge will go towards funding research to support effective treatment options and a cure for the disease — neither of which currently exist.