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 Times:

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.

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.

Wandsworth Times:

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.”

You can find the funding page here.