Hamish Blake, Ash Barty among celebrities sliding to fight MND at Big Freeze 8
The TV funnyman had the MCG in stitches after baring more than intended during his plunge into an icy pool of water for Neale Daniher’s Big Freeze 8.
Victoria
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Thousands of everyday footy fans, inspired by Melbourne legend Neale Daniher’s fight against motor neurone disease, dug deep and smashed his foundation’s ambitious $2m fundraising target on Monday, as celebrities and sporting icons took the plunge in the ever-popular Big Freeze drive.
Daniher, robbed of the ability to speak as the terminal disease takes hold, was for the first time unable to deliver his pre-fundraiser rev-up to the stars he had hand-picked to take the plunge into the frosty ice bath.
His mate, and the first slider to take the plunge eight years ago, Tim Watson, said Daniher had united AFL fans with the annual fundraiser.
“He no longer has his voice but he’s got his sense of humour and his spirit,” Watson said.
Carlton legend Eddie Betts, dressed as the Black Panther, said he avoided ice baths in his playing days but was happy to take the plunge for a cause.
“Neale Daniher is a superhero himself,” he said.
Actor Rhonda Burchmore, dressed as Poison Ivy from the Batman movies, said she was inspired by both Daniher and her own sister’s fights against motor neurone disease.
“I lost my sister to motor neurone disease. It’s a small couple of minutes of torture and it’s worth it to raise awareness and I’m sure she’d be laughing at me,” she said.
After taking the plunge, she said: “I’m just freezing all my bits off.”
His daughter, Bec Daniher, said it astounded her to see the fundraising tally grow throughout the day.
“The generosity of the Australian public still astounds me,” she said.
“To have dad by my side through it all is a really special moment for me.
“He continues to amaze me, he’s such a strong human being, he is honestly my hero and to walk the march with him, to stand on the slide with him and then be on the ground and see all the little grandkids run around, it was really beautiful.
“He’s so strong, he’s so positive, and he’s so determined.”
Ms Daniher said to see Collingwood and Melboune fans turn the MCG into a “sea of blue” with their FightMND beanies
“We know that there’s Melbourne supporters, and we know that there’s Collingwood supporters, but today, there’s one team, and this is a team that is determined to beat the beast that is MND.”
Ms Daniher said the fight against the disease remained a “David and Goliath story”.
“The job isn’t done yet, MND still has no effective treatments or a cure, so we’re going to keep fighting it until that’s no longer the case.”
“It’s going to take an army of people to find that answer.”
She said it was “spine tingling” to walk from Federation Square to the MCG with thousands of supporters in tow.
“I feel like everyone in Melbourne turned out today and I know that they’re going to continue to do that right across Australia,” she said.
“To have a march that just continued on, and on, and on … shows that the community really cares what these people are going through and want to make a change.”
Ms Daniher said her father’s fundraising efforts started off humbly, but had become a movement.
She had a heartfelt message for everyone who donated to the cause.
“From the bottom of my heart, on behalf of Dad, on behalf of the Danihers and FightMND, thankyou for your continued support, you are the ones who are making a difference.”
The Front Bar host Andy Maher, dressed as Radar O’Reilly from MASH, said everyone involved was united by the same cause.
Winter Olympics gold medallist Jakara Anthony said she never expected to take part in the charity event.
The freestyle skiier, dressed as Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, said she never expected to be cheered at a packed MCG.
Despite spending most of her year at ski fields around the world, Anthony said the ice bath was the coldest she’d ever been.
But the real star of the show was Daniher, who summoned his strength to lead a march of Dees fans from Federation Square, down “Daniher’s Way”, to the MCG for the major event.
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, up to 80,000 Melbourne and Collingwood fans marched to the MCG, packing the stands in unrestricted numbers to watch a fantastic footy fundraiser.
Collingwood fans also marched from their Olympic Boulevard headquarters, meeting up with Demons supporters at Daniher’s Way and entering the MCG as a united force for a great cause.
Neitz – Melbourne’s longest serving captain – said the star power his former coach was able to draw helped kick goals in funding research and support of the cruel disease.
“I think it’s been amazing what he’s been able to do,’’ he said.
“Obviously it’s a killer of a disease and Neale has been able to well and truly outlast the statistics.
“For him to just continually put himself out there for the cause … it’s getting harder and harder for him but he puts others before himself and wants to provide hope for people in future diagnosed with MND.’’
Neitz said the 10 people picked to slide on Monday would be taught Daniher’s edict of putting the fun in fundraising.
“It’s a very serious cause for a very serious disease but there is nothing too serious that goes on down the slide,’’ he said.
“Neale has been so big on making sure we keep it fun and given it’s been two years since we’ve been able to get the MCG packed full with blue beanies, it’s just going to be sensational.’’
With Daniher this year robbed of his voice by the cruel disease, his daughter Rebecca hoped the high profile status of this year’s sliders would help spread his message.
“To have such a diverse and amazing group is a credit to their generosity to support the cause,’’ she said.
“This campaign has really been about the fact dad’s voice has been taken away so we really need people to step up and the rest of Australia to speak up.’’
Meanwhile, indie music star Vance Joy, who was slated to perform before the celebrity slide, has pulled out after testing positive on Monday morning.
“I was excited about playing at the MCG today but unfortunately I was feeling sick this morning, tested myself, and have Covid,” he wrote on social media.
It comes as the Victorian government on Monday announced it would donate $250,000 to help FightMND reach its target of raising $2 million by half time of the Melbourne and Collingwood blockbuster.
Premier Daniel Andrews said Victorians would today pause to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Neale Daniher to raise awareness of MND.
“It’s hard to think of a more inspiring person than Neale Daniher,” Mr Andrews said.
“The work he has done for others when faced with a devastating diagnosis is truly remarkable.
“It’s great to be back at the MCG today and we’re proud to support Neale’s fight.
“Every day it brings us closer to finding a cure to this terrible disease.”
The donation builds on $6 million previously donated by the Victorian government to the Big Freeze and FightMND since 2014.
Mr Daniher said the funds will be invested in urgent MND research “to find better treatments and a cure for this beast of a disease”.
The charity has raised $63 million for MND research and care since 2014.
“We haven’t found a cure yet but with people’s ongoing support hopefully we will soon and hopefully one day we won’t have to have the Big Freeze,” Mr Daniher said.
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