It takes a lot to catch a seasoned live TV veteran completely off guard, but last month, Sam Mac was almost left speechless after a guest\u2019s surprise request.<\/p>\n
The moment happened as the Sunrise weatherman was joined by Neale Daniher\u2019s wife, Jan, for a live segment to launch the annual Big Freeze event which helps raise money for FightMND.<\/p>\n
The iconic event, taking place on Monday June 8 at the MCG before the AFL game between Melbourne and Collingwood, will see a bunch of famous names dress up in costumes and hurl down a massive slide directly into a pool filled with ice water, symbolising the \u2018freezing\u2019 effect that motor neurone disease has on the body.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was told leading into it (the segment) that Jan had a surprise announcement,\u201d Sam told news.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought Jan was maybe going to tell us what the costume theme for this year was \u2026 and then live on the air Jan said that Neale had requested that he would like me to be one of the sliders!<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s rare that I\u2019m surprised in my own segment, but that\u2019s how it unfolded,\u201d Sam said.<\/p>\n
Once the initial shock wore off, Sam quickly agreed to take the plunge. <\/p>\n
On Monday, he\u2019ll be joined by fellow famous faces including Andy Lee, Dale \u2018Daisy\u2019 Thomas and even the Governor-General of Australia, Sam Mostyn AC.<\/p>\n
What is MND<\/p>\n
FightMND is a charity that was established in 2014 by AFL legend Neale Daniher, following his own diagnosis in 2013.<\/p>\n
The beloved former player and coach tragically passed away last week<\/a> after a brave battle with the condition, which causes weakness in the muscles and eventually leads to paralysis.<\/p>\n While some people can live a long life with MND, the average life expectancy is 27 months from diagnosis. <\/p>\n Currently there\u2019s no cure, but FightMND hopes to change that, and has raised $150 million to increase awareness and fund vital research to improve the quality of life for those living with the cruel condition.<\/p>\n For Sam Mac, it\u2019s deeply personal<\/p>\n There\u2019s a reason Sam Mac was so quick to accept the offer to be a Big Freeze slider.<\/p>\n He has a personal connection to MND, having lost his mate, Chris Grigg, to the disease in 2022.<\/p>\n Sam\u2019s uncle Laurie, who lives in Victoria, is also currently battling the condition after being diagnosed in 2019.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really hard,\u201d Sam said about his uncle\u2019s fight. \u201cHe\u2019s very stoic, much like Neale was.<\/p>\n \u201cLaurie was always doing road trips and would often drive his caravan over to South Australia to visit us when I was growing up \u2026 but he can\u2019t drive anymore as he\u2019s in a mobility scooter, and they\u2019ve had to sell the caravan.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really sad,\u201d Sam continued. \u201cHe hasn\u2019t had that opportunity to explore with his grandkids and do things that I imagine he was planning to do.\u201d<\/p>\n But rather than dwell on the negatives, Sam says his uncle has been deeply inspired by Neale Daniher\u2019s message to \u201cplay on\u201d and focus on what he can control.<\/p>\n True to form, Laurie buys a FightMND beanie every single year, and he\u2019ll be wearing his with pride in the MCG stands on Monday as he watches his nephew take his icy plunge.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, that moment alone will be worth every freezing second,\u201d Sam said.<\/p>\n Going big on the icy outfit<\/p>\n Each year, the celebrity sliders are given a costume theme. For Big Freeze 12, the brief is \u2018people you admire\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what I\u2019m wearing yet, and I\u2019m not just saying that to be secretive,\u201d Sam told news.com.au. \u201cI\u2019m brainstorming at the moment so I\u2019m open to suggestions.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite leaving it to the eleventh hour, Sam guarantees his costume will be nothing short of spectacular.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t want to be that person at the dress up party who wears a T-shirt and just writes something on it,\u201d the TV star said. \u201cNope, I\u2019m all in, with me it\u2019s go big or go home.\u201d<\/p>\n How you can help find a cure for MND<\/p>\n Footy fans heading to AFL matches this weekend will have the opportunity to buy the famous Big Freeze beanies<\/a>, caps, or socks at the game to help raise funds to fight MND.<\/p>\n