FightMND Big Freeze: Neale Daniher ‘plays on’ in inspirational fight

After smashing his goal to live long enough to meet his grandchildren, Neale Daniher has set his eyes on a new milestone.

Neale Daniher and granddaughter Rosie, 18 months, try out this year’s Big Freeze beanies. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Little Rosie is the granddaughter Neale Daniher thought he’d never live to see.

But the 18-month-old is already playing a central role in one of footy’s most famous families — joining the rally call for this year’s FightMND Big Freeze fundraiser.

Daniher, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2013, was so convinced he wouldn’t live long enough to meet his grandchildren he wrote a book outlining the thoughts he wanted them to one day read.

Rosie is the daughter of Daniher’s daughter Lauren.

He also has a grandson, Cooper, 2, son Luke’s child.

“When I was first diagnosed neither of our four children were even married so being around for grandkids seemed a very long shot — so I’m very grateful,’’ Daniher told the Herald Sun.

“I treasure the time with them, just to watch them and play silly games with them – that’s something I wasn’t always so certain that I would get to enjoy.

“They are the best kids. My wife Jan and I just love spoiling them rotten. After all isn’t that what grandparents are for?”

Neale Daniher with granddaughter Rosie, 18 months, is launching this year’s Big Freeze. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Big Freeze 7 will see the famous ice slide return to the MCG when Melbourne takes on Collingwood on the Queen’s Birthday June 14holiday.

Several big names from the footy and entertainment worlds are already lined up to take the icy plunge.

The movement’s iconic FightMND beanies are now on sale, this year emblazoned with the words “Play On” — the same phrase Daniher used to sign off a text message informing friends and family of his MND diagnosis.

“Play On is my mantra,’’ Daniher said.

“This disease is like the umpire’s decision at the footy – it’s not going to change no matter how much you yell and scream.

“So we just have to play on and find a cure for it.

“No good whingeing and whining, I might as well be doing something so that kids like Rosie may never have to worry about the bloody beast of a thing.”

Jan and Neale Daniher and his granddaughter Rosie, 1 and daughter Bec. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Rosie tries out a new kid’s beanie.

FightMND has committed more than $48m to research to help find a cure for motor neurone disease since Daniher, Ian Davis who passed away from MND and Pat Cunningham, who lost his wife to the disease, founded the charity in 2014.

The average life expectancy of someone who has MND is just 27 months.

“We can’t thank everyone who gets behind us enough, not only the big names, the famous sliders and all the footy connections, but the wider MND Army that raises money all year round,’’ Daniher said.

“They are often the people most impacted and yet they continue to find a way to raise money for research into a cure.”

Beanies are available at Coles, Coles Express and Bunnings stores nationwide.

They can also be bought online at fightmnd.org.au, with a limited number of new children’s beanies available through the website only.

Originally published as FightMND Big Freeze: Neale Daniher ‘plays on’ in inspirational fight