Zurich Australia has once again backed Neale Daniher and his fight against ‘The Beast’, donating $10,000 to FightMND.

It’s the fourth consecutive year Melbourne’s Co-Principal Partner has supported the foundation, which raises funds and awareness for motor neurone disease.

Zurich’s contribution comes ahead of Big Freeze 7; a highlight of the AFL fixture, set to be held on Queen’s Birthday.

CEO of Zurich Life & Investments, Justin Delaney, said it was important to get behind the cause once again, to continue the great progress made in search for a cure.

“The annual Big Freeze campaign is close to the hearts of our Zurich employees,” he told Melbourne Media.

“We continue to be inspired by the courageousness and tenacity of Neale Daniher and his FightMND team, and their efforts to raise funds to find a cure for this debilitating disease.

“We are so pleased to hear of some of the recent medical advances made possible by the research funded through this campaign – but we still have a long way to go to realise a world without MND.”

Big Freeze 7 will take a slightly different approach in 2021, with ‘sliders’ hitting the ice inside an empty MCG.

Despite Melbourne and Collingwood’s dedicated match being moved to the SCG – the venue change is a result of Victoria’s current COVID-19 situation – the icebreaker will remain at its spiritual home, embracing this year’s message to ‘Play On’.

In forging ahead with the confirmed sliders and set-up, the spectacle will be shown live on Channel 7 prior to the first bounce in Sydney.

And with two states now in on the Queen’s Birthday action, there is all the more reason to join the FightMND army.

“We at Zurich are so proud to be part of the Big Freeze community and every beanie purchased by one of our employees will be dollar matched by our Z Zurich Foundation,” Delaney said.

We feel honoured once again to play our small part and urge all Melbourne supporters around the country to support Neale and the fight against MND, whether that’s at the game or at home.

Following last year’s event, where players from all 18 clubs were challenged to slide at different locations, Daniher has taken a more traditional approach to Big Freeze 7.

Big names of the sporting industry have slowly but surely been revealed, with former Demon Jeff Farmer and Melbourne AFLW captain Daisy Pearce among the names preparing to brave the ice.

To get behind FightMND in 2021, buy a beanie online, or in-store at Coles or Bunnings, or donate.