COBDEN'S Sarah Dunn hopes there will one day be a cure for Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
It is for this reason she and Tracey Telford are hosting the South West's Big Freeze for the second time on Saturday.
Mrs Dunn's father Robert Orde passed away after a very short battle with the disease.
He was only 56.
"He was diagnosed back in 2008 and he passed away eight weeks later," Mrs Dunn said.
Sadly, he was diagnosed with the disease on the same day that Mrs Dunn had her 12-week scan for her first child.
Mrs Dunn said it was heart-breaking her father never met to meet his grandchildren Molly, who is now 10, and Charlie, who is now six.
She said the family suspected he had MND for at least a year, but his symptoms were thought to be a result of a stroke 10 years earlier.
Mrs Dunn said it was terrible watching her father suffer from the disease, which she had never heard of.
She said she started researching the disease in search of a cure and was devastated to find there wasn't one.
"I do believe there will be a cure one day," Mrs Dunn said.
"I hope it happens in my lifetime because MND is a death sentence."
His battle with the disease prompted Mrs Dunn to get involved with raising funds for MND.
Mrs Dunn said she hoped to raise at least $20,000 at the event on the weekend.
She said MND was more common than people thought and there was being very important research done into its cause and possible treatments.
"This keeps dad's memory alive and drives me to do my little bit for the community," Mrs Dunn said.
There will also be entertainment for kids on the day, with jumping castles and face painting.
The event is held as a nod to Neale Daniher's Big Freeze at the G.
Mrs Dunn has met with Mr Daniher and said he was incredible.
She said he had wished her the best for Saturday's event.
"He says good luck and have fun with it," Mrs Dunn said.
She has invited members of the public to attend the event, which will be held at the match between Cobden and Camperdown on Saturday at Cobden.
At least 10 people will take the plunge into a pool of ice to raise money for research.
Mrs Dunn said the action would kick off about 1pm.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
