On a cold and overcast day, (back from left) Kaitlin Gibbons, Stephen McMahon, Sarah Gibbons, Dwayne Reid; (front) Ella Gibbons and Jamie Gibbons flocked to Seymour Coles for the FightMND ice bucket challenge in support of Kym McMahon (front centre). Photo: Billie Davern.
In support of his mum, Coles team member Jamie Gibbons was dunked with ice water on an overcast, 12°C day.
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On Tuesday, June 17, Kym McMahon and her family travelled four-and-a-half hours, from just outside Wagga Wagga, to see her son freeze in the Seymour Coles FightMND ice bucket challenge.
Kym was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in March last year after an 18-month-long period of battling with progressing symptoms.
Jamie, who has only been working at the supermarket on Wallis St for six weeks, was struck by the community support for the cause and had no choice but to face the wrath of the ice twice, his mum looking on with a cheeky grin on her face.
Kym was joined by her partner Stephen McMahon and daughter Sarah Gibbons for the trek to Seymour.
Sarah said to see the community rally behind the cause in the way it did was staggering.
“It’s a devastating diagnosis for anybody ... when it touches your family, there’s a different level of sadness,” she said.
“I think the more awareness that is raised and the more fundraising, the better. All it can do is great things in terms of trying to find a cure.
“The community is getting involved and having so many people show up, that in itself is just incredible.
“It’s (the ice bucket challenge is) discomfort, and I think that moment of discomfort raises awareness.”
Kym McMahon was a smiling onlooker as Jamie and Ella Gibbons were dunked with ice water at the Seymour Coles FightMND fundraiser. Photo: Billie Davern.
Photo by
Billie Davern
While the family agrees that a lot of work is being done on a national level to raise awareness of the disease and its impacts, there is still a lack of information about MND.
“There’s a lot of things that need to be done,” Stephen said.
“Making it a registrable disease for a start would make a huge difference. There’s really no idea how many people have got it because it’s not a registrable disease.”
While Kym said the progression of her symptoms was “starting to get faster now”, her mouth was still curving in a big smile when watching Jamie get dunked, which she said was her favourite part of the day.
Kym and her family extended their gratitude to the Seymour community for the day of laughter and for showing the cause such tremendous support.
“We’re very thankful for the community and the money that’s been raised — it’s very special,” Stephen said.
“It means a lot. A lot of people have put a lot of work into it.
“They’re trying to help as best as they know how and that means a lot.”
11°C