The MND Mountain Challenge – a friendly footy match between Dinner Plain locals and their Omeo neighbours – began in 2011, shortly after Mr Canning’s death.

The community’s resolve to raise money for research was further strengthened three years ago when Tahnee Orchard, a Benambra mum who regularly took to the field, was also diagnosed.

Celebrity coaches have travelled far and wide to support the match and related fundraisers throughout the day, including Ron Barassi and Neale Daniher.

Dinner Plain’s Peter McKenna has co-ordinated the event in that time.

“It was a way of getting two communities together and celebrating his life’s journey and to raise funds,” he said.

“The game started as a friendly tussle and it’s built into a more formalised MND day with celebrity coaches who donate their time coming up.

“We have direct money to the Orchard family last year to support their journey, we’ve given money to research and this year we’re giving money to the MND Foundation.

“Neale is a friend and to see him deteriorate has been disheartening to say the least – he’s fighting on.”

The connection to the cause was shared by Channel 7 identity Nick McCallum, who travelled to Omeo to host a luncheon for the second year.

“What I love about this is, you speak to a number of MND sufferers and many say four or five years ago, the first question someone would ask is ‘What is MND?’,” he said.

“Now, the first question they ask is ‘What can we do to help?’.

“The awareness has made a huge difference to these people and says a lot about the town.”

The small community has been hit harder than most by the disease.

Omeo resident Shane Peach was umpire for the match for the first time on Friday and it was a particularly poignant occasion. 

“I lost a friend to MND exactly a year ago, so it’s extra special,” he said.

“Everyone knows Tahnee and her daughter Bonnie goes to school with my step-daughter.

“The event is all about the cause.”

It was the year to break the tie – the Dinner Plain Mount Hotham Demons had won equal matches to the Omeo Benambra Rangers in the past four years of the MND Mountain Challenge.

Melbourne legend David Neitz was right at home as celebrity coach for the Demons, with former St Kilda midfielder Justin Koschitzke tasked with bringing Omeo to victory – and so he did.

It was a repeat of last year with the Rangers taking the title by one goal.

The celebrations continued later with David Cloke, Stephen Powell and Ted Carroll among the former AFL greats there to support the event.