Community digs deep & tops the State

Mount Gambier’s love for the Big Freeze has continued, with Coles customers and team members helping raise more than $47,000 in just over six weeks for FightMND.

Coles Mount Gambier was the top fundraising store in South Australia and among the top 10 nationally for Big Freeze 10, taking its overall fundraising tally for FightMND to more than $165,000 in five years.

It is also the third year in a row that the store has finished as the top fundraiser in South Australia.

Funds raised in Mount Gambier helped bring Coles’ tally for Big Freeze 10 to over $9.3 million which will be invested in MND research and treatments as well as care initiatives for Australians living with MND.

Funds were raised from the sales of Big Freeze Beanies as well as popular supermarket items such as Coles Brand Fresh Australian Pork products, Pepsi Max soft drinks and specially marked Big Freeze 10 Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate blocks and Peters Icy Poles, with customers also giving generously at the checkout.

Coles chief commercial officer Anna Croft thanked customers, suppliers and team members for their record breaking support.

“Coles is delighted to have raised a record amount for FightMND in their milestone year. We’re incredibly grateful to all our customers, Aussie pork farmers and suppliers like Cadbury, Peters Ice Cream and Asahi Beverages for their generosity and support for Big Freeze 10,” she said.

“We hope the funds raised will go a long way in helping FightMND to find a cure for MND and to help support the health of the thousands of Australians who are affected by this cruel disease.”

FightMND Campaigns Director Bec Daniher said Coles’ fundraising efforts helped FightMND to reach a final tally of more than $20.1 million in its Big Freeze 10 campaign.

“Ten years of the Big Freeze has helped FightMND make targeted investments into projects focused on developing new treatments and driving discoveries towards a cure,” Bec said. “The funds raised during Big Freeze 10 will help continue this work.

“On behalf of my family, FightMND and everyone battling the Beast, I want to recognise and thank everyone who purchased Beanies and donated generously to the cause. Also, to our wonderful partners and supporters who back us year on year with such passion, thank you.”