Ice challenge accepted

Sam Moorfoot with his captain's choices, AFLW Cats players Chloe Sheer and Mikayla Bowen. (Ivan Kemp) 337411_03

Geelong Cats AFLW players Chloe Sheer and Mikayla Bowen have been hand picked by Geelong Big Freeze ambassador Sam Moorfoot to slide into the icy waters for MND.

Moorfoot’s captain’s choice include the Cats’ duo and they will join the likes of mayor Trent Sullivan, Bay 93.9’s morning crew Mark Hyland and Lisa ‘Milly’ Millard, former Geelong star Andrew Bews and AFL Barwon general manager Ed Wilson at the Drysdale Football Netball Club event.

It will be the second Geelong Big Freeze with the inaugural event in 2022 a raging success with $62,000 raised for Fight MND.

Organisers are hoping to better that this year and are expecting a crowd of about 4000.

“The goal is to match or beat last year,” event organiser Graeme Reid said.

“If we get into the 60s it will be good. A lot of fundraising happens late and it depends on the crowd. We sell a lot of merchandise on the day.”

Reid said the sliders were nervous, but realised it was all for a great cause.

“It’s really funny, even though a lot of them are hesitant about sliding down into the water, they are all keen to do it for the cause,” he said.

“A lot of them get extra nervous when the day comes and the costume goes on.”

Fight MND co-founder Neale Daniher’s daughter Bec, who is now the face of the cause, will be at the Drysdale event.

Reid said Drysdale’s footy and netball opponent on the day, Newcomb, had “really come on board and supported it well”.

Footballers and netballers from both clubs will wear MND socks as will all umpires.

A carnival atmosphere is expected for the Geelong Big Freeze on Sunday June 4 at Mortimer Oval, Drysdale with the Drysdale vs Newcomb clash to follow the ice slide at 2.30pm.