The annual Fight MND Fundraiser at the Bairnsdale Football Netball Club (BFNC) over the King’s Birthday Weekend is just around the corner.
This year’s event will take place at the Bairnsdale City Oval on June 7 when the Redlegs host reigning premier Traralgon.
With the Omeo and District Football Netball League and East Gippsland Football Netball Leagues having a week off courtesy of the public holiday long weekend, a large crowd is expected to watch the matches and pre-game entertainment, which centres on some of East Gippsland’s most famous sliding into a cold bath of freezing ice.
BFNC is again promising a carnival-like atmosphere for what has become a great East Gippsland community event in recent years, so much more than just a game
of football, though this year’s football match has the potential to be an epic with every four points vital in the Gippsland League in 2025.
BFNC, led by president, Michael Mann, is hoping to better last year’s tally which exceeded $100,000 for the FightMND cause, with the money raised going to fund vital research to help find a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.
“We are hoping to raise in excess of $100,000 for the third straight year. The support from the public is always amazing, we have already gone over $26,000 so we are well on our way to another great result,” Mann said.
FightMND is Australia’s largest contributor to MND research to find effective treatment and ultimately a cure for MND.
The Bairnsdale venue was the largest DIY organised event in Australia last year.
Key BFNC MND organiser, Vicky Waddell, is keen for another huge day, hoping to keep the community spirit going.
“It’s a great cause, our sliders show lots of courage taking the plunge, so its important that we get behind them,” Waddell said.
Prior to the senior football game of football sliders will make the slippery trek into freezing ice, led by Wayne Jarvis (TRFM), Laurel Calvert (BFNC life member), the mayor of the mall Anthony Scott (Bairnsdale Tattslotto), Kaitlyn Mathers (Whelans), Bailey Collins (racing car driver), Dane Chambers (Dahlsens), Ian Pearson (Pier 70), Fiona Morrow and Kevin Foley (Traralgon Football Netball Club), Bernie Farquhar (East Gippsland Shire Council), Kelly Avage (Peter Murray Funerals), Frank Desio (Kennedy Trailers), Perry, Harriet and Tahlia (Kick in the Bush), Jae Grumley (Lindenow South Football Netball Club), Loren Kyle (Wy Yung Football Netball Club) and James Blandford (Lindenow Football Netball Club).
Farquhar is keen to play his part and says the event is made for him with this year’s beanies saying BF11 (Big Freeze 11).
“Neale Daniher is an inspirational story, how can you say no? I’m happy to be on board,” Farquhar said.
The BFNC are keen for donations, however small, because it all adds up to something big.
