Northern Lakes AFL fundraiser for Fight MND

Forget the Big Freeze at the MCG — Northern Lakes Power AFL club is hosting its own fundraising gala day to “sock it to MND”.

Northern Lakes Power AFL players pictured Noah Taggart and Zahli Taggart, Jack Willding, Stix the dog and Max Barsby for “Sock it to NMD". (AAP Image/Sue Graham)

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When Jack Willding and Max Barsby’s grandmother Lorraine Anderson was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) it came like a bolt out of blue.

So after Mrs Anderson lost her battle against the “insidious disease” in November, aged 73, her beloved Northern Lakes Power AFL club decided it wanted to “sock it to MND”.

Riding on the success of the Big Freeze at the MCG on Monday, the club will host a gala day to raise money and awareness for Fight MND this Sunday.

Former Carlton player Chris Judd goes down the slide for FightMND's Big Freeze 5 during the AFL Round 12 match between Collingwood v Melbourne at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 10 (Photo: Michael Dodge/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

The Northern Lakes players will be wearing special “sock it MND” socks while several AFL officials including AFL North Coast regional manager Simon Smyth, as well as Mrs Anderson’s husband Rob, will be doing the ice bucket challenge.

Club President Andrew Taggart said the local NAB Auskick competition had also agreed to hold its gala round at Northlakes Oval, which would see about an extra 500 people at the ground.

“The plan is to make it an annual event,” he said.

“The more people we can get there, the more donations we can get and the more money we can raise.”

Northern Lakes Power AFL players Noah Taggart, Jack Willding, Zahli Taggart and Max Barsby for “Sock it to NMD". (AAP Image/Sue Graham)

Mr Anderson said his wife was diagnosed with MND in July 2017 after she started experiencing problems with her speech.

It quickly spread to her throat, lungs and eventually Mrs Anderson lost complete mobility.

“They’re fully cognitive and aware of what’s going on around them the whole time,” he said.

“That’s what makes it so insidious.”

Mr Anderson said besides raising money to research a cure, the Fight MND charity provided patients with equipment, such as a walking frame or breathing machine, as their condition worsens.