Comic and podcaster Hamish Blake surprised the next audience with a silky blue dress inspired by Frozen and a blonde wig as she ran down the slide.
Hamish Blake speeds up Big Freeze slide at FightMND’s eighth fundraising event. Credit: Michael Willson / AFL Photos
Blake, a former Neale Daniher mentor, wiped the water off his forehead as he expressed how “excited” he was to be at the amazing event and support such a respectable cause.
To end the slide celebrations, tennis legend Ash Barty, dressed in what she called a 12-year-old Lion King Rafiki costume.
Lifting a stuffed mini Simba into the air as was done in the film, Barty confidently caught the icy temperatures with his step. Composed and always smiling, Barty barely let out a chill as she marveled at the success of the day.
“Neale is an amazing man,” he said. “[We] make people smile, laugh. We will do our part to find a solution one day. “
Other brave runners included Neale’s older brother Terry Daniher, Demon champion David Neitz, Rebecca Maddern of Seven News, former Australian national cricket coach Justin Langer, sports commentator and announcer Andy Maher and the star of the stage and screen, Rhonda Burchmore.
David Neitz goes down the slide as Braveheart. Credit: Getty Images
The whole lineup experience was summed up perfectly by Burchmore as he stepped out of the icy ice bath, trembling but pleased with his poison ivy suit and his bright red wig: “I’m just freezing all my pieces here! “
As Bec Daniher had promised, it was a spectacular show, with fun costumes, theater, music and a sea of blue hats in honor of his father and all those who have been affected by MND.
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Two people are dying from the disease and two more are being diagnosed every day, according to a FightMND spokesman. The average life expectancy of a person living with MND is only 27 months.
The Victorian state government announced on Monday that it would donate $ 250,000 to help FightMND achieve its goal of raising $ 2 million in the middle of the Melbourne-Collingwood showdown. This is based on the $ 6 million previously given by the government to Big Freeze and FightMND since 2014.
“I thank the Victorian government for its continued support and significant contribution to the fight against the MND,” Daniher said.
“These funds will be invested in urgent MND research to find better treatments and a cure for this beast of a disease.”
Since 2014, the charity has raised $ 63 million for MND care and care initiatives. No worries were found, but Daniher said the annual blockbuster Big Freeze at the Queen’s Birthday plays a vital role in raising awareness and funding.
“We’re doing well, and I think that demonstrates the generosity of the Australian community,” he said.
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