An Australian Rules football club based in Wandsworth has raised over £7,000 for FightMND, a charity which works towards finding a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.
After four weeks of socially distant fitness events on Clapham Common, the Wandsworth Demons have finished their “Big Freeze” fundraising campaign on a high.
The final event, which took place last Saturday (July 11), included a 21km silent walk, ice challenge and raffle draw, bringing the total raised to £7,800.
Wandsworth Demons members cool down on Clapham Common Credit: Mitch Harrold
With over 200 members, the Wandsworth Demons is one of the largest Australian Rules clubs outside of Australia. Pre-COVID, it fielded three men's and two women's teams into the AFL London league.
This is the fifth year in a row that the club has organised FightMND fundraisers -- the only club outside of Australia to do so.
Just received the sort of email that makes me wonder whether there's any real point to anything I do. Staggered
— Gareth Davies (@Gareth_Davies09) July 14, 2020
FightMND is supported by the professional AFL team in Australia. However, the cause is also close to the Wandsworth team’s heart -- with one member's father tragically being diagnosed with the debilitating disease last year.
Australian Rules football is a contact sport with similarities to football and rugby.
The team sells merchandise for Fight MND fundraiser Credit: Mitch Harrold
Club President, Xavier Holland, is proud of the team’s result.
He said: “It’s an extraordinary effort for the Demons to continue our fundraising for another year for Fight MND. In an incredibly difficult time both financially and socially, it didn’t dull our enthusiasm for a cause that is so close to our club.”
“It’s been a wonderful way to bring us together in a time when community is so important to help us all get through the current global circumstances.”
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