2026 DIY Big Freeze

We're participating in this year's DIY Big Freeze

Play On.

"Play On."

It's everywhere. Plastered on hotels, screens, on every social media post. 

What does it mean? What does it mean for this cause? For Neale's legacy?

Today it means grab your digital beanie. 
Fill the stadium. 
Make it loud. 

https://bigfreeze.com.au/#virtual-beanie

And after today? It's up to all of us. The community. 
To carry forward Neale's legacy. 
To continue the FIght against Motor Neurone Disease. 
To stay connected to the cause. 
To beat the Beast. 

It is a true honour to be here at the MCG today, as the first community slider to head down the slide.

Take the plunge with us. 

Play On. 

One Week to the MCG.

We wanted to extend our huge love and gratitude to all who have donated to FightMND this year. Whether you've bought a beanie, donated to our DIY Big Freeze or Bumbebee for MND, thankyou. The incredible generosity  and kindness of people has pushed us to stretch our goal for Big Freeze 2026 even further, to $5k. 

We were fortunate enough to be invited to the ground this week for the 7 News interview with Nick McCallum. It was incredible to have Bumblebee there at the ground too, and for the kids to read Neale's story at Daniher's Way.

I've never been at the MCG when it's empty. It was still. Neale's name was on every screen. The air was a heartrending mix of heaviness and crackling excitement. The whole ground felt like it was holding it's breath, waiting for what comes next. 

Right now, what comes next is we keep fighting. 
Keep fundraising. 
Keep connecting people to the cause. 

See you at the Big Freeze. 

Josh. 

For Neale.


We are deeply saddened by the news of Neale Daniher’s passing. Our hearts go out to his family and friends, and to the team at FightMND.




FightMND ran a campaign this year, talking about how this fight started well before the G: ‘It was a silent fight. The quiet of a doctor’s office.’


That popped up on my feed a few days ago, and that phrase hit hard. As a GP, I know that quiet all too well. An uncomfortable quiet, an isolating quiet, held in by patients and their families. 


Neale brought that outside. To the masses. To the MCG. To millions of voices. 


This fight will be won in millions of small battles. Researchers, patients, carers, volunteers, donors, nurses, fundraisers. It takes people. 


Neale has made it known that none of us are fighting alone. 

Even in the quiet of a doctor’s office, his legacy is loud.


Rest well, Neale. 


We will play on.

Pract-ICE Makes Perfect!

The countdown is on to Big Freeze 12 at the MCG. 
The training montage has begun:
I've been studying past footage.
Assessing technique.
Eating ice(cream). 

My two coaches tell me they are experts at slides with over 10 years combined playground experience. 

They tell me to embrace the cold.
I am the cold.
I am cold.

We're so close to reaching our fundraising target for 2026!
Might be time for a stretch goal.

That reminds me, back to stretching. 

Huge Love,  see you at the G. 
Josh, Jacinda, Raff & Theo

BIG NEWS!

Guys. Big news. 

As Big Freeze weekend draws closer for 2026, I have had the absolute privilege of speaking with FightMND CEO Matt Tilley and the team.

Turns out, sometimes when you put good things out into the world, (like fundraising for this HUGELY IMPORTANT CAUSE) then sometimes good things come back to you...

This is more than a good thing. This is an utterly wild, bonkers, downright incredible thing. This year, instead of slip-sliding at our home MCG (Muddy Cold Ground) I'm going to be slip-sliding at the REAL THING. 

FightMND has invited us along to the Big Freeze at the MCG, where I'll get to barrel down the slide as a chilly little warm-up (cool down?!) before the rest of the Big Freeze Sliders!

We care deeply about this cause. 

Our first FightMND fundraiser was a DIY Big Freeze with a bag of ice from the servo, a kiddy pool and a far-too-small Elsa costume. Since then we've done everything from icy slip'n'slides to annual lemonade stands to family runs and the 44km marathon at the Great Ocean Road Running Festival. 

We've been honoured to support Bumblebee-for-MND along the way and this will be an incredible opportunity to highlight the amazing job Bumblebee does raising awareness and funds for FightMND. 

You should check out Bumblebee IMMEDIATELY. Right here:

https://hub.fightmnd.org.au/fundraise-for-fightmnd/bumblebee-for-mnd/

Please help make this our Biggest Big Freeze Ever! 
Every little bit helps.

It all goes straight to FightMND. 
To find a cure. 
To beat the Beast. 

Stay tuned,

Josh :)

Slip 'N Slide Big Freeze is BACK for 2026!

Hey wonderful humans!

We are Back for the Beast, fundraising to take on Motor Neurone Disease (MND) with our Slip 'N Slide Big Freeze for 2026. 

MND is a progressive disease that gradually takes away a person’s use of their arms and legs, their ability to eat and swallow, their speech and ultimately, their ability to breathe... all in an average timeframe of just 27 months. 

This is a cause so very close to our family's hearts, and we appreciate every bit of support. 

The research, trials and support that benefits from these funds has a real impact. We've seen it. 

Every single bit of support helps. Huge love and thanks. Stay tuned. 


Josh, Jacinda, Raff & Theo

Thank you to our Sponsors

$1.04k

Creswick & Clunes Pharmacies

Keep up the fight Team Saunders

$1.04k

Ludes

Thanks!

$267

Joshua Saunders

$267

Carolyn Vasey

Go Josh! Awesome work.

$267

Pete Heinz

Go Josh S

$267

Dominic Saunders

Hi Josh and Jacinda Awesome job! Love Uncle Dom

$250

Jill Keuning

MAKE THE BIGGEST SPLASH YOU CAN DOCTOR JOSH! <3

$250

Mick And Jo Saunders

So proud of all your efforts!

$226

Josh Saunders

With thanks to the Creswick Community!

$200

Our Amazing Community

$200

Sue Jones

$200

Mitchell Smith

$163

Brad Dowling

Keep it up team doing great things! Love you all x

$163

Peter Marks

$150

Bernadette Saunders

Go Josh, so proud of you all. Happy Sliding

$150

Verbeeks

Go team!!

$106

Essie & Adam

$106

Ryan Fambam

We’re so proud of you all. Can’t wait to be there!

$106

Connor Saunders

No photo of me absolutely beefing it?

$106

Adriana Saunders

Way to go Josh and team!

$106

Kylie And Dolly

Well done team Saunders!

$106

Madeline O’nial

$106

Runners Prep

$106

The Straubs

Great work team!

$106

Theresa Watson

Great work Josh and Co!!!

$106

Jacob Mahony

$106

Noreen Baxter

$106

Annika And Mia Dowling

$106

Maree Foley

$106

The Pattos

Go Josh!

$106

Millie Heinz

Welldone Josh! Proud of you and the family!

$100

Maxine & Alan

$100

Russell Smelter

Well done Josh and crew! Enjoy the G.

$81

Patla Family

$81

Patrick Watt

GO Josh. Can't be colder than Camperdown!

$81

Alison Heffernan

Go team Saunders! Fight MND!

$81

Tony

Great effort keep up the good work.

$80

Anonymous

$65

Julie

Cant wait to watch Josh go down the slide

$55

Morning Dew Carpet Cleaning

We are all stronger together

$55

Kicky Crew

$55

Stepnell Family

Well done Josh, amazing effort!

$55

Vicki

$55

Judy Conheady

Well done Josh

$55

Patrick Dowling

Fantastic effort Josh &Jacinda & Raffa & Theo

$55

Kerry Hewitt

$55

Helen Hickey

Go Doc, good job

$55

Leonie Leviston

$55

Carmel Durrant

Brrr!

$55

Kate

Great work Josh, Jacinta, Raff and Theo!

$55

The Turners

$55

Mark Saunders

Well done 👏

$55

Clint And Pauline Prebble

Great work Jacinda and Josh.

$55

Hugh Saunders

$55

Kerryn Williams

All the best. Great job.

$55

Fireup Coaching

Great work Josh and inspiring effort- Cheers Kathy

$55

Adzy, Jessie And Joni

Always proud of you. ❤️

$55

Kim And Ken

Go Josh. We love what you do. A big bee thank you.

$55

The Sommerfeld Family

For Luke! Good luck on the day!!

$50

Ree-goodings Family

Yuuuuuussss guys!! Such big love for the Fambam!!

$50

Benni Shaggy

Legend 🤘

$50

Maria Saunders

So proud of you all for all the hard work you are

$45

Hilary Bottcher

Well Done

$45

Tracy Hickey

Well done Josh 🙌

$35

The Lawrence Family

Let's keep fighting the beast! Much love. x

$34

Louise

Your family is doing such important work 🩵

$34

Anonymous

$28

Maria Hepburn

Great work again team. Congrats Josh on today

$28

Grace Scolyer

$24

Kerry Caffery

Good on you Josh and good luck 👍 reaching target.

$24

Erin Burns

Good luck Josh 🌟

$24

Chelsey Butterworth

$24

Frankie Collier

$24

L & L Mithen

Ur big heart will keep you warm for the Big Freeze

$20

Adele

$20

Ange E

$20

Laura Dykman

$20

Leanne B

$18

Gabrielle Phelan

Fantastic effort, Excitement for you at the G!