As an inspiration to everyone, Neale Daniher is continuing his fight with MND and says he will continue to โplay on.โ
Daniher appeared on AFL 360 on Wednesday night to promote this yearโs Big Freeze at the โG, but the deterioration in his speech and fine motor skills from last yearโs Big Freeze is evident.
Despite suffering from the horrible disease, the former Essendon captain and Melbourne coach remained as funny and positive as ever during his emotional interview with Mark Robinson and Gerard Whateley.
โMND is a progressive disease, it takes things from you. All the things you love,โ Daniher told Fox Footy.
โI love to run, I love to play golf, I love to play tennis. You canโt do that. You canโt drive. I canโt dress myself. Iโm struggling to talk. And I miss that because Robbo, as you know, Iโm a very funny guy! Iโm hilarious.
โBut thereโs one thing it canโt take from me. MND takes everything from you except your last great freedom; and thatโs your right to choose your attitude.
โYou choose your own way. And my attitude is donโt give up, donโt give in. It canโt take that from you.โ
Daniher believes this could be his last year being able to speak on the promotional rounds for the Fight MND event with his speech likely to be completely taken away from him by next year.
โIโm realistic. This will probably be my last opportunity to talk,โ Daniher said.
โNext year, if Iโm alive, Iโll be grunting, trying to grunt funny jokes.โ
โIf you dwell on what will eventuate, it canโt help. Youโve got the freedom to choose what you think, the freedom to choose your attitude, and Iโve got a positive attitude to focus on what I can do. And if I stay there, Iโm OK.
โBut if I move away from that, and you do fall, we all fall for playing the victim, everyoneโs a victim. Everyone has injustice in their life, bad luck. But if you stay there, you go nowhere.
โSo I choose to think, whatโs the opportunity, what can I do, whatโs our next laugh? If you focus on that, you can get by.โ
The fourth Big Freeze at the โG will take place at the MCG before the clash between Collingwood and Melbourne on Monday.
All 18 AFL senior coaches will be dressed up in costume to go down the slide into the ice water before the game.
