One of London’s most successful Aussie rules clubs hosts its annual fundraiser for motor neurone disease on Clapham Common this Saturday.
Wandsworth Demons will clash with London Swans three times as their men’s Premiership and men’s and women’s Conference teams take each other on in a bumper day of fixtures as part of Big Freeze on the C in support of FightMND.
Fans are also treated to a bar, ice dunking and a raffle with prizes including a signed Melbourne Demons jersey and an AFL football.
Every point counts in these crucial league fixtures for the AFL London sides, but the Demons are not forgetting why everyone is coming to the Common this weekend.
“The Big Freeze on the C is quite a personal cause for many of our members, with a number of them having personal experience with friends and relatives who have suffered from MND,” said Wandsworth Demons president Xavier Holland.
“It was set up by one of our former members Gaby Duncan, but in just a couple of years it has grown into us raising over A$12,000 (£6,800) in 2017.
“To have the club come together to support and raise funds for FightMND is something we are very proud of.”
The fundraising takes place before the fourth annual Big Freeze at the G in Australia, a charity showpiece before Melbourne take on Collingwood in the AFL down under.
All 18 AFL team coaches will be dunked into a giant ice bath in aid of FightMND.
The pre-match stunt is similar to the Ice Bucket Challenge that swept across the globe in 2014, which promoted awareness and encouraged donations to charities working towards a cure for motor neuron disease.
An AFL England spokesman said: “With a strong ex-pat community, there’s no doubt that there will be players with one eye on the Big Freeze at the G.
“It’s a great charity initiative and we’re happy and proud to be able to host an event of our own here in England.
“FightMND have been a big help with merchandise and support.”
They added: “People usually come across the sport by chance on TV, but this is an event right in the heart of London for people of all ages to come and watch, and maybe pick up a bit of a taste for the game.”
For the kids that want to try out a new sport, there will also be the opportunity to enjoy a session with the Clapham Cubs, London’s first junior Australian football club.
What: Big Freeze on the C Aussie rules fundraising event
Where: Clapham Common
When: The fixtures kick off at 12pm and the event ends at 6pm
How: Short walk from Clapham Common tube station
More information: http://afllondon.com/
