Neale Daniher has passed away at the age of 65 after a long, brave fight against motor neurone disease.
Daniher was a champion Essendon footballer and led Melbourne to a Grand Final as a coach, but will be most remembered for his incredible fight against MND.
The Daniher family on Monday released a statement:
“We're heartbroken to share that our much-loved husband, Dad and Poppy, Neale Daniher, passed away at home, surrounded by his family.
“From day one, Neale was a fighter. His determination was unmatched — choosing every day to find opportunity where others might see only challenge, and taking the fight to the Beast with everything he had.
“Even in the toughest times, he kept pushing forward, determined to land as many blows as he could against his toughest opponent, all with a cheeky grin and a sharp sense of humour that never left him.”
Daniher was diagnosed with MND in 2013, with the diagnosis becoming public in 2014.
He immediately set about dedicating the rest of life to educating the public about the disease and raising funds to find a cure.
Last year, Daniher was named Australian of the Year.
FightMND has become an iconic fundraising force, with Daniher the co-founder and patron.
The annual King's Birthday clash between Collingwood and Melbourne has become the headline act in partnership with the Big Freeze organisation.
It started in 2015, with celebrities sliding into an ice bath to raise money become one of the landmark events on the AFL calendar.
