Dunking for a cause

DUNK Day returned to the Bellarine Distillery last weekend, raising more than $6,000 for
Fight MND.

On Sunday (September 15), distillery co-owners Russ Watson and Craig Michael, Bellarine Smokehouse owner Jason Smith and City of Greater Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan were among those taking the icy plunge, with all funds going towards Daniher’s Drive.

Mr Watson said they all ended up being dunked into the water several times.

“We had a great day, it was good, fortunately the weather did the right thing.

“It comes as a total shock when you go in, it’s quite amazing.”

As part of the fundraising efforts, guests lined up, paying to dump extra bags of ice into the tank or for ammunition to throw at the target.

Local businesses also got behind the cause, donating a range of prizes from artwork and dining vouchers through to a muscle cruise.

Torquay band Amadeus Wolf also gave up their time, entertaining a crowd of more than 100.

“The highlight of the day is certainly the people that came to the event and heled with the festivities and the fun, made an event out of it and the generosity of all the people who have pitched in to help make it a great day,” Mr Watson said.

The distillery first ran the fundraiser last year, bringing in about $4,000.

“Jason from Bellarine Smokehouse approached me last year and said he had a friend that had passed away because of motor neuorone and he asked if I wanted to go on the drive with him,” Mr Watson said.

The pair, along with fellow dunkees Natalie and Alex Smith, will participate in this year’s Daniher’s Drive, leaving Melbourne on October 10 and heading through Bendigo, Warrnambool and Lorne.

For more information, head to fightmnd.org.au