Recently MND-diagnosed NRL star Jai Arrow has been asked to toss the coin at the AFL’s ‘Big Freeze’ MND fundraiser match on King’s Birthday.
Arrow retired from rugby league immediately after announcing his Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis on May 20.
Five days later, Australian of the Year winner and AFL legend Neale Daniher succumbed to the insidious illness, after 13 years of campaigning and raising funds to fight it.
The King’s Birthday AFL clash between Melbourne and Collingwood has morphed into the ‘Big Freeze’ concept, with all funds raised going to FightMND charity.
Arrow will fly back from neurological wellness retreat overseas to be a guest of Collingwood at the AFL blockbuster, reports Tom Morris.
He has also been asked to toss the coin, but it is unknown if he has accepted the honour.
During Rabbitohs‘ pre-season training in November, Arrow felt pain in his neck and shoulder – with an injury in those areas initially thought to be the issue.
When the exact injury couldn’t be diagnosed, further tests were conducted and alarm bells started to ring when Arrow’s speech started to be affected.
Arrow spoke of the moment he was diagnosed with MND and mentioned about the impairment he has noticed in his verbal communication.
“I laughed,” Arrow told 9NEWS of when he discovered he was suffering from MND.
“Not that I laughed, but my first question was ‘all right, where do I go now?’
“[It has] progressed from November until now.
“Speech is one of those things [that is different].”