AFL star Matthew Stokes opens up about his father’s heartbreaking battle with motor neurone disease: ‘I still remember the phone call’

Geelong premiership-winning great Mathew Stokes has spoken about his father’s battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and the parties thrown for him before he passed away.

Stokes enjoyed a successful career with the Geelong Cats after joining them in 2006 and played as a small forward, playing a crucial role in their premiership-winning campaigns in 2007 and 2009 before retiring in 2015.

His father, John Stokes, was also a talented football player and was unfortunately diagnosed with MND last year.

John died in September this year from illness, but made it a priority to have parties before he died.

“In the end he was in a wheelchair and couldn’t move, but he didn’t want to get away from it,” Mathew told the Herald Sun.

Stokes and his father John at a reception in Geelong. John was diagnosed with MND last year

Stokes, who won two premierships with the Geelong Cats during his playing career, is telling his father’s story to raise awareness of MND.

“He wanted people to see him and remember him for who he really was, the happy, talkative man that he was. Dad never shied away from seeing people, especially at the end, he just wanted to tell one more story.

“We had three going away parties, one of them was his birthday, and he didn’t want to leave any of them. He felt like every time he said goodbye to someone, he got closer to the end.

“He cherished the moments until the end with many of his teammates, people he grew up with and played a lot of football with and against.

“I’ve heard more stories in the last six months from him and his friends than I have in my entire life.”

John was extremely fit and active well into his 70s, running three or four times a week and doing weight training exercises at the back of his house in Darwin.

Then all of a sudden he started having balance problems.

“I still remember the phone call like it was yesterday to learn that he had been diagnosed with MND,” Mathew said.

“It was a shock in the face to hear that and immediately my thoughts went to Neale (Daniher) and that this is something incurable, it was quite difficult to bear.”

Daniher is a former Essendon player and Melbourne coach who has become a prominent advocate for raising awareness and funding for the MND.

Neale Daniher attends the 2022 Collingwood v Melbourne match where the Big Freeze took place

After being diagnosed with MND himself in 2013, Daniher launched the FightMND campaign to support research and improve the lives of those affected by the disease.

Matthew said one of his father’s last wishes was to help the Danihers with their campaign – and that’s what he’s doing.

“I remember sitting on his back porch and I was like, ‘Dad, what do you want from me in this?’ he said.

“He just pulled me right in front of his face because he obviously couldn’t turn his neck and said, ‘If the Danihers ask you to do something, you say yes.’

“Dad knew he wasn’t going to win the fight, but we will win the war in the end and I hope we can honor Dad’s memory, and the person and legacy of who he was, by making it part.”

The Big Freeze is an annual event hosted by FightMND, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for MND.

The event, held on June 10 this year, brings together high-profile figures, including sports stars, celebrities and community leaders, who slide into an icy pool to raise awareness and collect funds. funds for MND research.

Participants wear iconic blue hats, symbolizing support for those affected by the disease, as the event aims to highlight the challenges faced by people living with MND and raise vital funds for research initiatives vital.