AFL and Essendon champion Tim Watson is urging footy fans to continue the fight against the “beast” that is motor neurone disease by buying unique 10th Anniversary Big Freeze beanies.
The cause nestles close to Watson’s heart after his former teammate and great-mate Neale Daniher was diagnosed with MND, sparking the first Big Freeze at the ‘G in 2014.
Watson was even the first man to plunge down the slide into an icy pool to help raise funds.
Since then, the annual AFL event has raised millions of dollars to continue the fight against the insidious disease that destroys the nervous system, with $15.8 million raised in 2023 alone.
However, Watson has urged footy fans to unite again, with the fight more important than ever.
“Each year, this Freeze at the G shines a spotlight on MND suffers and the fact that there’s still no known cure for it,” he told The West Australian.
“The battle rages and (the Big Freeze) is vitally important because it maintains momentum that’s been created over the last 10 years through Neale and what he’s been able to do.
“He’s an amazing human being and a genuine hero, and I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s become so popular.
“People see this genuine person who is really challenged now physically, but he continues to find enough energy to get himself out there and be part of this cause.”
This year, fans can purchase beanies specifically designed to celebrate the extraordinary event’s 10th anniversary.
“It’s a special 10-year anniversary beanie. It’s okay to wear beanies from other years, but this is the one for people to go out and buy, the special beanie,” Watson said.
“The fact that you go out there and buy a beanie and show your support is really, really important as there’s still a lot of work to be done.
“The fact that people care and see the beanies around, for that person who’s got MND, it means a lot.
“This is one team everyone can be a part of.”
Watson also said he’d been blown away by how big an event the Big Freeze had become, attributing much of its success to Daniher’s remarkable “persistence” and “desire” to make a difference.
“To be quite honest, I don’t think any of us understood as much as we do now about the fight but also how it’s become part of the football calendar,” he said.
“We didn’t know what we were embarking on all those years ago, but we knew how driven Neale was, how persistent he was, and his great desire to make a change and make a difference.
“I don’t think any of us saw how big this was going to become and how important it was going to be in people’s lives.”