Freshening up: Kyabam Community Bank’s Cameron Vickers had no option but to take the plunge at Kyabram Recreation Reserve when he was volunteered by branch manager, Faith Monnich, who donated $500 for him to participate in the event.
Bailey Bell and Kevin Monahan typified the attitude of the “dunkees” that were involved in the Kyabram Junior Football Club Big Freeze event on Friday.
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The AFL VIctoria employees volunteered to be involved in the fundraising initiative because the mother of a friend had died a week earlier with Motor Neurone Disease.
Bailey said he was participating to honour his friend, Kai Lundberg’s, mother after she had lost a short battle with MND.
One of the organisers, Melissa Roberts, said the count on Monday was at $9900, but the club was still waiting on a couple of donations.
“And we still have the Geelong guernsey to auction,” she said.
Mrs Roberts said the club would be keeping its fundraising page open until the MCG Big Freeze 9 event on Monday.
“We were thinking we would raise $5000 and given that we will more than double that it is a wonderful result,” she said.
Close to $9000 alone from people paying for the privilege to press the dunking button.
Kyabram cafe owner Ricky Papalia went into the freezing cold water dressed as his hero, Elvis, a large amount of cash handed over for the right to send him under.
“We had teachers, business people, coaches and quite a few with MND stories,” Mrs Roberts said.
“We thank the community for having me involved and for getting around such a great cause.”
Proud as punch: Cameron Vickers’ daughter Jazmyn paid $50 to the Kyabram Junior Football Club event co-ordinators for the right to press the dunking machine button and submerge her father.
Dry argument: Zac Collyer from Primal Health is quite comfortable before being sent into the ice-cold water awaiting below.
Red Ninja: Debbie McArdle, from Kyabram’s Water Partners, volunteered in honour of friend, Vicki Prior’s, husband Max. He lost his battle with MND seven years ago and Vicki, along with her family, are regular supporters of fundraising events associated with the disease. He was diagnosed in 2014 and died two years later and Vicki said she had always had massive support from the Kyabram community.
That’s cold: Debbie McArdle emerges from the freezing water.
Take a guess: Five-year-old Zoe Dennis had eyes only for this jar of lollies, which was one of the many fundraising initiatives. There were all sorts of goodies on offer, cup cakes, a barbecue, flavoured milk and other canteen products for those at the Friday evening event.
Putting up a fight: Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell volunteered to participate on the back of his connection to the Daniher family and Assumption College, where MND campaigner Neale Daniher had attended some years before Mr Birrell.
Sock it to ’em: Kyabram Junior Football Club’s Under-9 Black team with their Freeze MND socks. The club sold $2500 worth of socks and beanies during the fundraising event.
Girls’ night out: Grant Mitchell with his daughters Henley and Maddie after they took turns in pressing the dunk machine. He was sent into the water on two occasions, complete with goggles and snorkel.
Make mine milk: Flynn Burrows enjoys a flavoured milk, which was donated to the club for the Freeze MND fundraising evening by Kyvalley Farms.
Testing the waters: Lylah Newman (right), daughter of Kyabram football coach Paul, keeps a close eye on the youngster who made a donation in order to dunk the champion sportsman.
Musti’s moment: Mustafa Hassani has a post-dunk interview with master of ceremonies Andrew Porch after he continued his community minded activity by volunteering to be dunked at the Friday night Freeze.
Icing on the cake: Patrick and Wyatt Giffin with one of the Big Freeze 9 cupcakes that was on offer at the strongly supported junior football club evening.
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