Get your beanie on

As part of the fight against Motor Neurone Disease (MND), the iconic FightMND blue beanies are back.

Launched by FightMND founder and AFL legend Neale Daniher AO this week, this year’s Big Freeze 8 beanies are available at Coles, Coles Express, and Bunnings stores nationally, and online.

Retailing for $25, the funds raised will be directed to the FightMND organisation and will be invested in research projects focused on fast-tracking new MND treatments and driving discoveries towards a cure.

Mr Daniher, who was diagnosed with MND in 2014, urges all Australians to help lead the fight against this “beast of a disease”.

“As the beast takes away my ability to be the voice of this fight, this year, more than ever, I’m calling on all Australians to come together, play on and help lead the fight against MND – with actions, not words,” he said.

“MND is relentless but so are we. By proudly wearing a Big Freeze Beanie, you’re joining an unstoppable army, united in their determination to fight back and marching as one towards a cure.

“Together I know we can defeat this Beast. It’s time to Beanie On, Play On,” Mr Daniher said.

Coles: a proud FightMND partner

“Coles has been a proud partner of FightMND for the past five years,” Coles Chief Operating Officer, Matt Swindells said.

“We’re delighted to once again support this important cause with the help of our customers and team members.”

In addition to buying a beanie, shoppers can also support the cause by buying a specially marked Australian pork product from today until Tuesday, 21 June, with 10 cents from the sale of each Coles Brand Australian pork product and 20 cents from the sale of each Coles Free Range Pork product from the meat and dairy departments being donated to the Big Freeze 8 campaign.

The 2021 Big Freeze 7 campaign was Coles’ single biggest fundraising event ever, with more than $6.7 million raised in just six weeks and taking the total funds raised for FightMND to over $12.8 million since 2018.

The Big Freeze campaign

This year’s Big Freeze six-week campaign will culminate with a celebration on the Queen’s Birthday public holiday (13 June) at the annual Big Freeze AFL match between Collingwood and Melbourne at the MCG.

The celebration will include the much-loved celebrity, a yet-to-be-announced global music act and see the return of the March to the G for the first time since 2019.

To learn more, visit: fightmnd.org.au/big-freeze-8/