‘Grassroots Fundraising Inspiring’ – Local Footy Support for FightMND

Football greats feature at fundraiser. MC Gavan Schultz poses questions to Steve Johnson, Tadhg Kennelly and Dean Cox at the SS&A.

The Albury Tigers Football Club’s annual Grand Final Lunch, supported by the SS&A Club, has raised $30,000 for the charity created by Neale Daniher.

The event featured a panel of AFL champions, now Sydney Swans assistant and development coaches, Steve Johnson, Tadhg Kennelly and Dean Cox.

FightMND CEO Jamie Howden, says he’s humbled by this latest donation from generous football supporters and the corporate community.

“I know the Big Freeze at the G is awesome, and we see it on TV and everyone gets behind it and that’s fantastic, but what also inspires me as the CEO is the grassroots fundraising in the regional areas and country towns like this,” Jamie said.

“We are lucky to have a leader like Neale, who just resonates with people and they want to get behind his cause and he’s incredibly selfless.

Big Freeze at the ‘G’ has been a major fundraiser for Neale’s cause. Photo credit: FightMND Facebook Page.

“He rings me every day and ensures I do the best job, he is an old school footy coach and he’s hard like that, but he’s living his life totally selflessly because he knows, unfortunately, that the work he’s doing is not going to help him.

“Everything he does is for people in the future who get this ‘beast of a disease’ as he calls it.”

One of the founders of the annual lunch, Brendan Brown from Albury Tigers says the FightMND charity has been a fitting recipient of their fundraising efforts.

“This is our third year supporting FightMND,” Brendan said.

“Neale Daniher doesn’t inspire any particular group, I think he’s inspires the nation.

“We see the struggle Neale is going through and it’s just a testament to him why so many people come out to support events like this.”