Movie night to help MND fight

A FUNDRAISER next month is combining the new Elvis Presley biopic with the push to find a cure for motor neuron disease.

An MND movie night will take place at Star Cinema in Eaglehawk on Thursday, 14 July at 7pm, showing Baz Luhrmann’s latest film, Elvis.

The night is the latest in long-time fundraiser Julie Baird’s efforts to fight the disease, which has taken the lives of two of her close friends.

“Back in 2019 my friend passed away and then I had another friend die, it’s just become more and more MND,” she said.

“So we decided to join the Daniher Drive, go on the drive and raise money.”

Over the last three years, Ms Baird has raised just shy of $170,000 for FightMND through the Daniher Drive. Her target this year is $50,000 by October, with $20,000 already raised.

Star Cinema hold’s regular fundraiser nights on Thursdays, and Ms Baird said the venue has been helpful.

“They give half the money of the ticket to the cause,” she said. “Elvis should be really good, I think people will still want to come, even though it’s a couple of weeks after its release.”

The move night is just one part of Ms Baird’s 2022 MND fundraising campaign.

On Saturday, 23 July, a sportsman’s night is set for the South Bendigo Football Netball Club rooms, with Carlton legend Anthony Koutoufides confirmed to make an appearance,

Then on the Friday before the AFL grand final, Ms Baird’s golf day big freeze event will tee off, although it is yet to be confirmed who will take the ice plunge.

For tickets to the Elvis MND fundraiser, head to bit.ly/3Qx178H.