Sports stars proud to take plunge for ‘beaming light’ Neale Daniher at the ‘G

Recently retired sporting greats Mack Horton, Meg Lanning and Jack Riewoldt have jumped at the invitation to take part as celebrity sliders in Monday’s Big Freeze at the ’G.

Mack Horton, Meg Lanning and Jack Riewoldt all forged their own history making and heroic feats on the Australian sporting field.

But the recently retired greats of international cricket, swimming and AFL say the

inspirational feats of Neale Daniher and his crusade to find a cure for the cruel MND disease he fights is the true stuff of legend.

It is why the trio jumped at the invitation to take part as celebrity sliders in Monday’s Big Freeze at the ’G, to raise money and awareness of Fight MND before the King’s Birthday AFL blockbuster between Collingwood and Melbourne.

Olympic Gold Medallist Mack Horton and World Cup cricket star Meg Lanning will be taking part in Big Freeze at the ’G. Picture: David Caird

Olympic Gold Medallist Horton said he felt privileged to take part in something he had loved watching on TV over the past decade and — as a Dees fans — looking forward to meeting Daniher for the first time.

“He is a beaming light that we can all look to for inspiration on how to act and how to be better versions of ourselves,’’ he said.

Despite growing up in Melbourne and countless chilly starts to the day in an illustrious swimming career, he was but not so much the icy pool that awaits him on the MCG.

“Ice baths were the bane of my swimming career and I avoided them at all costs.

“So it is going to suck and I’ve seen on TV how much pace people pick up down that slide – I’m not a light guy so I’m a little bit worried.’’

World Cup star Lanning said: “It’s just such a great cause, Neale is such an incredible inspiration.

“I’ve followed it over the years and watched with admiration in terms of how they are going about trying to find a cure and raise awareness for something that is obviously really important.’’

Lanning and Horton say Neale Daniher is an ‘inspiration’. Picture: David Caird

No stranger to huge crowds at the MCG as the former Aussie captain, Lanning was feeling similar jitters in the build up to Monday’s event that she would before representing her country.

“The nerves are pretty similar actually – I’m a little bit nervous about going down the slide and I can’t train for it,’’ she said.

“I’ve just got to go out there and see what happens on the day.’’

Richmond great Jack Riewoldt says there is ‘an element of fun’ to being involved in the fight against MND. Picture: Supplied

One of nine sliders, alongside the likes of tennis ace Pat Rafter, footy stars Joel Selwood and Erin Phillips and athletics golden girl Sally Pearson, Lanning said the celebrity crew would adopt Daniher’s mantra of putting some fun in fundraising.

“It looks like a lot of fun, so I can’t wait to be a part of it,’’ she said.

Richmond great Riewoldt agreed there was “an element of fun” to being involved in the fight against MND.

“You get to dress up, head down the slide, it’s an awesome experience,’’ he said.

“I have a few people that I know that are battling the disease.

“I am doing this for them and for the thousands of people fighting the fight so that hopefully in the future, this is not a fight we need to have.’’