Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Sam Mac says he was honoured to be asked by the late Neale Daniher to take part in an icy plunge for the Big Freeze 12 and will do “absolutely anything” to help fight motor neurone disease.
The Sunrise weather presenter will make his debut as a slider at the event next Monday, and while he is still working on his costume, he was shocked to learn the freezing water he will be plunging into is between -2 and -6 degrees.
“My confidence levels for the slide have dropped slightly, but I’m so honoured to be a part of, hopefully, a record-breaking fundraising day for FightMND,” he said.
“I’m absolutely up for doing anything I can to help raise money, help spread that awareness and ultimately get to a cure. That’s what we’re all working towards.”
McMillan said it had been a rare moment for him to be on the end of a Sunrise segment surprise when Daniher’s wife, Jan, during the launch for Big Freeze 12, revealed that the man himself had personally requested the star take part.
“It was a complete shock to me,” he said.
“I don’t think anyone can say no to Neale Daniher. What he’s achieved is truly incredible. It’s so much bigger than football. It’s a legacy that will live on and is helping people. It’s not only helping people with the disease, it’s helping their families, their friends and their loved ones with hope. His message is powerful, and I feel that the message is even louder now.”
Daniher sadly lost his fight with MND on May 25 at the age of 65. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, after battling The Beast for 13 years.
Daniher set up FightMND in 2014 alongside Pat Cunningham and the late Ian Davis in the hope of one day finding a cure for the cruel disease.
MND is close to McMillan’s heart after his uncle was diagnosed in 2019 and his close friend Chris Grigg died in 2022, so he has firsthand experience with how the disease impacts families.
“It’s really tough on the families of those affected. So FightMND is a beacon of hope. I feel like it is a purpose for a lot of people,” he said.
“Chris was also much like Neale in the sense that he raised a lot of funds for the cause. He didn’t sit down and hide away in his house. He got out there, and he fought really hard for better conditions and a better understanding of MND, support for people’s families. So, another amazing man, I’m proud to represent him and his family in South Australia.”
The weatherman encouraged Aussies to rally around the campaign and urged them to donate no matter how small the donation.
“Obviously, it’s tough financially for a lot of people at the moment but don’t think that your contribution won’t help because if everyone had the attitude of, ‘Oh, it’s tough, I can’t do it’, you know, if no one bought a beanie, then those dollars wouldn’t add up.
“So every little bit does help and you’ll feel good about it.
“I think it’s almost like Australia giving a big hug to people who are going through that, (the Big Freeze 12) it’s a really special one and, and I really hope we break some records.”
