This is the ninth consecutive year of the FightMND movement, and for this year, for teacher Kim Griffiths and the Year 12 Donald High School girls, it’s personal.
Tony Goode was a vital part of the heart of the school. For this year, as it was last year, the funds raised from the FightMND beanies and socks will be in honour of him.
MND is a disease without any cure or effective treatment. But, with help from those who have participated in FightMND over the years, over $69.3 million has been invested in research that is beginning to show real promise.
“It would be great to be a part of finding a cure,” said Gabby Campbell, one of the Year 12 girls involved. “And though it’s unknown when that breakthrough will come, when it does, every single person who has bought a beanie can know they played a part in making that happen.”
And Gabby has bought every single one of the nine beanies so far, supporting exactly that.
“The work the foundation does is invaluable,” said Kim. “They support thousands of families affected by MND, and they supported the Goode family too.”
The Best
“Mr Goode was involved in so much within the community,” Erika Bicket, another Year 12 participant, added. “There was nothing he didn’t do. He was just the best person, so we’re all determined to support him one last time.”
Kim and the girls also reached out to some of the local businesses, bringing them into the fold. Spuds, Harvest Cafe, and the local Woods Street hair salon (to name a few) are all involved in the fundraiser as well.
“Kayla Allen has already sold 22 beanies,” said Kim. “So we have some catching up to do!”
The Big Freeze winter-patterned socks and beanies are an inclusive and easy way to support the fight against MND. At $15 a pair for either footy or crew cut socks, and $25 per beanie, by purchasing Big Freeze 9 merchandise or making a donation, you take up the call and help bring hope to those living with MND. Your support raises funds that go directly to game-changing cure and care initiatives, empowering researchers to continue the search for a cure, and changing the daily lives of those living with MND.
$79 can fund one hour of vital MND research in the lab – if just two people buy a beanie and a pair of socks each, they have already fully funded that one hour.
MND Week
For MND week in June, Kim and the girls are also aiming to bring back the “DIY Big Freeze”, involving ice baths and ice buckets. If sufficient funds are raised, even the high school’s principal, Paul Aikman, said he’d take the plunge – and in full costume too.
More driven than ever this year, Kim and the girls are ready to leave a legacy in Tony Goode’s name. For anyone else wishing to make an impact, contact Kim at 0438 981 227 for your own Big Freeze beanies and socks, or donate directly on the website https://fightmnd.org.au/big-freeze-9-homepage/
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 30 May 2023.
