Raising cold hardcash for MND research

STAFF members at Heathcote Primary Health (HPH) braved icy cold conditions last week to participate in a special version of the Ice Bucket Challenge to fight motor neurone disease.

Throughout the month of June, staff and patients donated to containers, each with the name of a staff member, with the highest fundraisers to be dowsed with ice water.

Organising the challenge were friends and HPH receptionists Elecia Mulvihill and Emarnee Davies.

“We started with staff members from Heathcote Primary Health,” said Davies.

“We were soon joined by two nurses from Heathcote Health.

“Whenever patients came to the clinic, they were able to add coins to containers featuring the names of doctors, staff members and nurses.

“It ended up being a close race with everyone happy to donate to such a good cause.”

The Ice Bucket Challenge has been running for 10 years, raising funds to help find a cure for MND, a progressive disease gradually taking away arm and leg function, the ability to eat, talk and ultimately breathe, all in an average timeframe of just 27 months.

The HPH winners were Dr David Anderson, nurse Jade Runnalls and receptionist Davies.

“Thank you everyone for your donations,” said Mulvihill.

“This is a great cause and I am grateful to our incredible community members who donated to it.

“We raised an amazing total of $483 and, as promised, we will dunk the winners.”

A crowd of patients, family and staff watched as Dr Anderson, Runnalls and Davies were dunked by Dr Pradeep Pokharel, Simone O’Brien and Michelle Carroll.

“Thank you to everyone who contributed to this great cause,” said Dr Anderson.

Davies and Mulvihill agreed that after such a positive result, they will be doing it again next year.