After missing last year due to COVID lockdowns and border closures, the Big Deni Freeze is back for its fifth annual plunge into the icy cold Edward River.
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Anyone in the area this long weekend is invited to join the fundraisers at Deniliquin’s McLean Beach this Sunday at noon, and help raise money for Motor Neurone Disease.
The event started in 2017 when a group of long-time Deniliquin visitors took their first winter dip in the Edward in honour of their relative and friend Bob Tottle, who had just been diagnosed with MND.
Six regular Werribee visitors took part in that first plunge, and in subsequent years they have been joined by large contingents of locals and other visitors also wishing to do their bit.
Similar to previous years, those taking part in the Big Freeze will spend Saturday “rattling tins” in a pub crawl through Deni.
Then at midday on Sunday the group will head to McLean Beach, where after a quick countdown, they will jump into the river.
Organiser Kylee Healy said the group is “very excited” to get back to Deni for this year’s Big Freeze.
“Each year we make more than we did the year before, but since we didn’t get to do it last year we are just keen to get back into it and raise what we can,” she said.
“We’ve always had such amazing support from the local community, the local clubs and pubs that let us rattle our tins.
“The people of Deni they really get behind it and are used to us taking over the town for a couple of days I think.”
While Ms Healy has not yet checked how cold the Edward is likely to be this Sunday like she usually would, after doing the plunge four times already she has a pretty good idea of what to expect.
“It feels like you’re running into a brick wall,” she said.
“I remember the first year we did it, someone yelled out ‘if your head doesn’t go under it doesn’t count’. So we have been following that rule ever since.”
Ms Healy said anyone who spots the group around town this weekend is encouraged to join in on the fun.
“We are very relaxed about the whole thing, so if you see us at one of the pubs, come join us and if you happen to be at the beach on Sunday make sure to get involved.”