They finished ninth in fundraising for all the stores in Australia, taking their total contribution to the cause to more than $132,000 since the Big Freeze beanie campaign began in Coles three years ago.
Coles Echuca store manager Ethan Smith said he was blown away from the support from the Echuca-Moama community.
“It has been amazing for our store to be among the top fundraising stores, not just in Victoria, but Australia, again for FightMND,” he said.
“We have such a wonderful advocate for the cause in long-serving team member Rhonda Pagram, whose husband unfortunately passed away from MND.
“We know what this fundraising campaign each year means to so many people like Rhonda, and we can’t thank the Echuca community enough for continuing to support the Big Freeze.”
Ms Pagram, who lost her husband Kevin to the disease, said people had a greater awareness of its impacts today.
“It wasn’t well-known when he (Kevin) was first diagnosed, but since Neale Daniher came and visited the town, as well as people like Kevin battled the disease, it has a personal impact,” she said.
“Kevin would be very proud of the town for raising so much for the cause, and myself for creating a website about what happened to him.
“Echuca is very great at getting behind the cause and I think this one resonates with many people.”
Ms Pagram said Coles had been a “safe place” for her when Kevin was battling MND.