There was talk this time last year that footy legend and charity champion Neale Daniher would step down as the face of the FightMND to focus on his own health.
Not even this man’s steely determination, thought some, could withstand the advance of a cruel disease like motor neurone disease.
Thankfully, they were wrong.
On Monday, a beaming Daniher stood tall as he led a sea of AFL fans into the MCG.
Addressing hundreds of supporters ahead of Big Freeze 5, the former Melbourne coach and star Essendon player urged supporters to continue the fight.
“I want to say a big thank you on behalf of everyone with MND and everyone caring for a person with MND,” he said.
“Without you, we won’t find a cure.”
Fourteen sporting champions took the icy plunge on Monday before the Queen’s Birthday clash between Collingwood and Melbourne.
Chris Judd, Cyril Rioli, Jimmy Bartel and Jobe Watson were among the AFL stars to volunteer.
It was a worthy spectacle.
Fans voted former St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt best in show when he descended the slide dressed as the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
But it was Daniher who remained the most inspiring star of this show.
Scores of wellwishers lined up to have their photo taken with the former VFL player who charity chiefs credited with helping keep the FightMND campaign relevant five years after it started.
Basketballer Lauren Jackson, netballer Bianca Chatfield and Olympic cycling champion Anna Meares also braved the freezing temperatures.
Meares took the plunge in honour of her former coach, Gary West, who died of MND in 2017.
“There is a lot of fun and festivity around what is happening today but there is a serious side to it,” Meares said. “It starts with awareness. Neale and the team at FightMND have done such a wonderful job to bring awareness to this illness and we need you to donate and help fund and find a cure.”
Before the first champion descended into the pool on Monday, online supplies of the Freeze MND beanies ran out. More than 180,000 hats were bought, ensuring the MCG was a sea of white and blue.
In all, FightMND has helped raise more than $28 million for research, resulting in nine drug-development projects, two of which are in the human trial phase.
On Monday raised $1.2 million, to take the year’s total to $4.7 million. In April, Health Minister Greg Hunt announced $5 million in funding for FightMND.
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