After Kelly Lundberg, 40, was diagnosed with the debilitating motor neurone disease in recent weeks, the Barmah Hotel is aiming to raise funds to contribute to a GoFundMe page set up in Ms Lundberg’s honour.
The collective goal is to raise $60,000 to help ease the financial burden on the Lundberg family and has already raised $17,665 towards that target.
The Barmah Hotel's Friday Night Freeze will see staff freeze their wages and donate all profits from the night to Ms Lundberg, with local personalities also stepping forward to complete the Ice Bucket Challenge.
With $10 from every parma and pizza sold going into the collection, as well as $2 from every pot and schooner sunk, profits from the local social club’s raffle will also bolster funds, with many local businesses supporting the cause with donations.
Ms Lundberg’s brother-in-law and Barmah Hotel owner Matt Gissing said the event was the community’s way of supporting her along the difficult road ahead.
“A few of us are on a fundraising committee for Kelly, and we’re planning a bigger fundraiser in Nathalia for July 18, but a lot of the locals also wanted to get behind Kelly and support her,” Mr Gissing said.
“With Kelly being a young mother of two, it was a shock.
“It’s still sinking in, it’s only been a couple weeks, so she’s still getting her ahead around it.
“But everyone wants to get behind her, the event is proving pretty popular.”
Mr Gissing said it was great to have so many local personalities putting their hand up to complete the Ice Bucket Challenge in wintry conditions.
“We chose this Friday for it specifically as the Big Freeze at the G is on this weekend. We want to bring more awareness to the disease,” he said.
Meals are available from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm, with the Ice Bucket Challenge starting at 8 pm.
To donate to Ms Lundberg’s GoFundMe page, head to https://gofund.me/fee11bbd
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