Fundraisers held in local footy leagues and clubs or Daniher's Drive which has past through this area, has contributed to the $4.2 million raised this year, helped by the federal government’s decision to match dollar-for-dollar community-based efforts.

And at the forefront of the fight against what he calls "The Beast" has been Neale Daniher, whose brave fight against the disease has captured a nation.

The third annual Big Freeze held in the lead-up to the Queen's Birthday blockbuster between Melbourne and Collingwood was another huge hit with some of Australia's best-known sporting greats including Lleyton Hewitt, Alisa Camplin, Andrew Gaze, Sherelle McMahon and Adam Gilchrist taking the plunge.

All money raised goes towards vital research into finding potential treatments and a cure for Australian MND patients.

An estimated 2000-plus Aussies are living with the presently incurable disease.

It is a progressive, terminal neurological disease and can strike anyone.

MND sufferers progressively lose the use of their limbs and ability to speak, swallow and breathe and each day two people die from the disease.

Daniher was a champion sportsman in his own right _ a brilliant footballer cut down by a succession of knee injuries before coaching Melbourne into a rare grand final in 2000.

But his legacy won't be his deeds on the sporting fields, rather than what he has done as the face of the fight against MND.

No amount of fundraising will save him from the wretched disease, but it could help someone, somewhere, some other day.

It's become his sole motivation in what time he has left.

He was confirmed with MND in late 2013 and, according to statistics, only one in five sufferers live longer than five years following diagnosis and the average life expectancy after diagnosis being about two and a half years.

Daniher maintains he has still had some small, but significant wins including being able to be present at weddings for his two daughters.

Without doubt his biggest achievement is being prepared to do something.