There was no ‘big freeze’ at Cronulla on Thursday, with the sun shining brightly at PointsBet Stadium, however that didn’t stop coach John Morris and the NRL playing group from sporting beanies in support of the Big Freeze, an initiative designed to support, bring awareness and potentially raise funds to help fight Motor Neurone Disease.
A flagship event in the battle against MND, the AFL supported Big Freeze is one that carries special meaning for Sharks coach John Morris who’s father passed away from the disease more than 15 years ago.
“I lost my dad to Motor Neurone when I was just 22,” Morris said. “I’ve always tried to do a little bit for Fight MND to raise awareness and hopefully raise money to find a cure for this terrible disease.
“While it is a much bigger event in Melbourne than it is in Sydney, like I was last year I’m more than happy that I can get behind the Big Freeze and encourage our Club to do the same.”
As a part of the awareness campaign beanies are sold across the country, with Morris and the entire Sharks NRL squad proudly wearing them at their Thursday morning training session in a show of support for the Big Freeze and #FightMND.
Bringing even more significance to the #FightMND cause for the Sharks was the loss of two popular clubmen and former players in Paul Fisher and Adam Maher, with the pair passing away in recent months from the disease.
Fisher and Maher both represented the Cronulla club during the 1990’s, Fisher playing 76 games for the Sharks, nine of those in first grade, Maher 43 matches between 1993 and 1996 before moving to the UK.
Former Queensland origin rep Carl Webb and Great Britain international Rob Burrow are other rugby league identities to be struck down and current in a battle with MND.
Founded in 2014, FightMND was established with the purpose of finding effective treatments and ultimately a cure for Motor Neurone Disease.
What FightMND has done since that time is be the voice, and the guiding star for Australians who want to fight ‘The Beast’.
The horrible and debilitating disease gradually takes away the patient’s use of their arms and legs, their ability to eat and swallow, their speech and ultimately their ability to breathe…all in an average timeframe of just 27 months.
Those looking to support the Big Freeze can purchase a beanie or donate to the cause CLICK HERE.
The beanies are also available for purchase from all Coles supermarkets and Bunnings hardware stores.
To find out more about FightMND and the Big Freeze, go to the website at https://fightmnd.org.au/
