The West Coast Eagles were honoured to welcome a special guest to the club on Thursday, Luke Daniher, son of the legendary Neale Daniher, the driving force behind the Fight MND movement.
The Big Freeze continues to grow in impact and awareness, with this year’s WA Freeze game taking place on Sunday at Optus Stadium as the Eagles face Carlton in Round 14.
Speaking to the AFL and AFLW playing group and staff, Luke reflected on the incredible journey of the campaign since its inception in 2013.
“It's amazing to think it is the 11th year, and it's always good to come back to where it all began in 2013,” Daniher said.
“That’s when Dad was diagnosed, and he was at West Coast. There was no treatment or cure, and it was amazing to have the West Coast team rally around him. From there it’s just grown and grown.”
Luke spoke passionately about the importance of continued support and funding in the search for a cure for MND.
“We’ve got to keep the best and brightest minds ticking over with their research to find a treatment or cure for this beast of a disease,” Daniher said.
“Every day, two people are diagnosed with MND and every day, two people lose their lives. It's incredibly urgent that we do something about it.”
The Daniher family has been a pillar of strength and hope in the MND community, and Luke shared what it means to see clubs like the West Coast Eagles continue to back the cause.
“When it comes to fighting such a beast of a disease, it requires a big army,” Daniher said.
His message to the wider Eagles family was clear and heartfelt.
“It’s incredible to have the support from the West Coast Eagles and the whole membership group rally behind the cause because it’s much bigger than Dad,” Daniher said.
“It is treatable and curable, but we need the funds to get behind it. It means so much to have everyone band together and support the cause.”
West Coast Eagles co-captain Liam Duggan also spoke on the significance of this round for the playing group.
“It’s a great cause to be around, and we can show it with these beanies on our heads but to be a part of our Freeze game in WA, it’s really special,” Duggan said.
“The (King's Birthday) game last week looked super cool from afar, and the quality of the game it was the way that ‘Danners’ would have played and coached his footy, and the way he’s fought against this beast.
"That’s how we’ll be going out to play on the weekend.”
Fans attending Sunday’s game can support the cause by purchasing official Fight MND beanies, caps and socks, which will be available throughout the stadium precinct.
Digital beanies can also be custom designed and purchased at bigfreeze.com.au, with funds going directly toward vital MND research.
