Gunnedah showed it’s not going to back down against the fight for a Motor Neuron Disease (MND) cure last Saturday.
Eleven people braved a cold winter’s day topped with a chilly ice water dunking to raise money for the charity Fight MND.
Gunnedah’s Sunnyfield Disability Services invited people to stop by the Gunnedah Country Markets to watch the dunking and donate to the cause. Some received a particularly slow treatment of ice water while others were more fortunate.
It was just one of multiple fundraisers in the community to raise money, including Sunnyfield’s own big freeze and a golf day on Sunday.
Those events and merchandise helped the team reach more than $12,000 from the fundraising efforts throughout 2025.
Last year, the Gunnedah Times was told the town’s Motor Neuron Disease diagnosis rate was 30 in 100,000 – a significant jump compared to the 8.7 in 100,000 average.
It left people wondering, why is the rate higher in Gunnedah?
“We don’t know why,” Sunnyfield Disability Services manager Tim Richter said.
“We want to make it a notifiable disease so the government can track what’s going on and find a cure for this beast.”
He said research shows a cure is getting closer.
“It is just around the corner, but it’s a long corner,” he said.
“Every dollar raised is a dollar closer.”
Disability support workers brought the Big Freeze local three years ago.
“I supported a client who had MND and I saw what it did to him and his family,” Tim said.
“I want the least amount of people to go through that.”
Gunnedah’s representatives stepped up this year with Gunnedah Shire Council deputy mayor Kate McGrath and Cr Tammey McAllan in the cold seat.
“[MND] is something that impacts our community,” Kate said. “There are multiple people within Gunnedah who are affected directly and indirectly.”
For Kate, she had a goal for people to get behind.
“Raising awareness obviously is an important part, but for people to actually put their money where their mouth is and donate towards an exceptionally good cause.
“It doesn’t have to be [now]. There’s multiple opportunities throughout the year.”
Tammey said it was an honour to be a part of the Big Freeze.
“We’re fortunate enough to be able to get up and do this whereas so many people can’t,” Tammey said. “So, if we are able to, why wouldn’t we?
“We live in such a close-knit community and we know so many people that are affected.”
A young pair to get dunked on Saturday were Katey and Tilly Muggleton. They were excited to get dressed up and be in on the action.
Katey was dressed as a person riding a chicken, Tilly as a banana.
“We’re just happy we got to come here and have a fun day,” Katey said.
