Big Freeze: Celebrity sliders help Neale Daniher’s FightMND cause raise more than $2m
The ninth edition of the Big Freeze at the ‘G has become the most successful yet as stars including Tayla Harris, Eric Bana, Mick Fanning and Michelle Payne took the slide into an ice bath.
Victoria
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A record fundraising tally and a huge AFL crowd have helped the ninth edition of Big Freeze at the ‘G become the most successful yet.
Celebrities from sport and show business put pride on the line, dressing as everything from Sleeping Beauty to Spider-Man before sliding into an MCG ice bath to raise funds for the Fight MND charity Neale Daniher helped create and awareness of the cruel disease he suffers.
Hollywood star and St Kilda fanatic Eric Bana stole the show, dressing as former Saints hard man Carl Ditterich for the fundraiser.
“He was a hero when he played for the Saints and then a villain when he played for the Demons,” Bana said.
Melbourne Cup winner Michelle Payne dressed as Wonder Woman, pushed down the slide by brother Stevie, who conjured Hulk.
“Like a thousand needles,” she said of the icy ride.
Mick Fanning came as the Silver Surfer, Collingwood champion Tony Shaw as Beetlejuice and Tayla Harris channelled soccer star Sam Kerr.
But while celebrities braved the icy pool, generous Australians were the real stars of the show with an unprecedented $2.3m plus in donations.
The final tally for the 2023 fundraising campaign will be announced in the coming weeks.
Daniher, who can no longer speak, told the Herald Sun in a statement the Big Freeze blockbuster was now bigger than sport.
“This footy game is simply another step on our marathon to eventually beat the beast, and every beanie we sell and dollar donated takes us closer to finding a cure,’’ he said.
Daniher and his band of Fight MND crusaders adopted the theme “All In” for the event.
And so it was as a mass of people capped by blue beanies rallied to the cause, marching from Federation Square to the MCG as one, through Birrarung Marr and along Daniher’s Drive.
Bana told the Herald Sun he was humbled to help.
“Just hats off the Daniher family,’’ he said.
“I think they are just incredible and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.’’
Daniher’s daughter and Fight MND campaign director Bec said: “we’re all in this fight, we’re continuing the momentum … we’re at a point in time that we can’t stop.”
Organisers set the lofty goal of raising $2 million for the annual MCG event by half time of the Collingwood-Melbourne clash.
And generous Victorians answered in spades, helping reach the target – and more – during the second quarter.
Neale’s brother Anthony said the support was “just extraordinary’’.
“Neale brings that positive energy to the event and he wants everything around the Big Freeze to be about fun … and in the meantime raising a few dollars to fight this Beast,’’ he said.
Pies defender Issac Quaynor said Daniher “provides a beacon of hope for a lot of people who are fighting MND and I think, when there is no cure, that is something that can be
really powerful.”
There are more 2,000 people living with MND in Australia, with two people dying on average and another two diagnosed with the disease each day.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday announced taxpayers will contribute $250,000 to fight motor neurone disease.
Mr Andrews also urged Victorians to stump up cash.
“Every bit counts – so if you can, please chip in too,” he said.
Since 2015, the state government has contributed over $6m towards Neale Daniher’s FightMND cause.
“Neale made his name on the sporting field, but his contribution to Victoria continues through his tireless work to fund research and find a cure for MND,” Mr Andrews said.
“He is an outstanding Victorian.”
Go to fightmnd.org.au, Coles or Bunnings to buy a Big Freeze beanie.
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