Neale Daniher AO is a co-founder of FightMND, a charity that has raised and invested over $115 million into medical research to find a cure for motor neurone disease (MND).
Since his diagnosis in 2013, Neale, with the unwavering support of his family, has been battling the debilitating effects of the disease in the public eye, tirelessly campaigning and raising awareness of MND. The annual Big Freeze event at the MCG embodies Neale's ethos of turning adversity into an opportunity for celebration and hope.
A former AFL player with Essendon FC who went on to coach the Melbourne Demons, Neale has drawn on these team-based experiences to galvanise the community Australia-wide to join the fight against MND.
The now 63-year-old has lived with the cruel disease for 10 years, defying the average life expectancy of just 27 months. With amazing courage and relentless drive, he is dedicated to helping prevent the suffering of those who’ll be diagnosed in the future.