Coles Echuca is rallying to support those with motor neurone disease. Pictured at the front is FightMND advocate Rhonda Pagram and Fred Molluso, who has MND.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
Coles Echuca is once again throwing its support behind FightMND, raising funds and awareness for research into motor neurone disease.
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Ex-team member Rhonda Pagram, who has been heavily involved in supporting the charity over the past six years, has returned to assist the store’s staff in their efforts.
Ms Pagram’s husband, Kevin, passed away from MND in June 2019, and she has since been motivated to help others with the disease.
“I think I just want to give back because it’s a tough disease. There’s no cure, there’s no treatment. They just go from bad to worse, to worse, and it’s cruel,” she said.
“That’s why I get involved. It just means a lot, and for Coles, this is one of their biggest fundraising events.”
Last year, Coles Echuca was ranked sixth in fundraising out of 850 stores nationally, bringing in over $52,000.
The store’s team and its customers have raised over $215,000 since 2020, and store manager Ashley Hinson said he wanted to see the business beat last year’s effort.
Coles’ Northern Country region is renowned for its FightMND fundraising efforts, with stores in Echuca and Shepparton raising a combined $560,000 since 2020.
Fundraising efforts began locally last week with a barbecue, and limited edition Big Freeze 11 beanies are now on sale in-store.
Money raised goes towards supporting thousands of Australians living with MND, including FightMND co-founder Neil Daniher.
“Big Freeze 11 is about living it forward. Taking action now for a future free from motor neurone disease,” Mr Daniher said.
“By pulling on your Big Freeze Beanie, you’re making a real difference.”
More barbecues are planned at Coles Echuca each weekend leading up to Saturday, June 7, when the store will host a DIY Big Freeze event.
Three team members and three managers, including Mr Hinson, will be taking the ice bucket challenge, dumping icy water on themselves in support of MND.
Ms Pagram said all funds raised by the store would go towards making a difference in the lives of people with the disease.
“I’m like the Danihers. I want to get there, I want to find a cure, and I want to find some treatment that will make their lives so much easier while they’ve got this hideous disease,” she said.
MND refers to a group of diseases affecting motor neurons, the nerves that control muscle movements.
In MND, these neurons degenerate and die, leading to progressively weaker muscles, and the average life expectancy is 27 months from diagnosis.
Donations can be made at any Coles store by purchasing Big Freeze 11 merchandise, Australian pork products, or donating directly to FightMND at the checkout.
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