SARAH Jones is no adrenaline junkie.
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Far from it.
Rides, speed, heights - it's just not for her.
In fact, she'd be the first to say she's "chicken.”
But that fear isn't stopping the Echuca-Moama export and Fox Footy host from taking the ultimate plunge on Monday for the Big Freeze at the G to raise funds in the fight against motor neurone disease (MND).
“If we go to a theme park, or go anywhere with water slides, the kids go with their dad (Leigh) and I'll watch,” Jones said.
“The (Big Freeze) slide isn't huge, but I will be the most scared of everyone out there, I have no doubt,” she said with a laugh.
“But I've had a lot of encouragement from my colleagues. They've said ‘it's not that cold, the adrenaline will get you through'.”
Joining the likes of high profile celebrities Daisy Pearce, Shane Crawford and Gil McLachlan to launch down the slide this year, Jones said she was honoured to be asked by former AFL player and MND sufferer Neale Daniher to take part in what has become a great tradition.
“Neale is such an inspirational and courageous man that there was no way you could say no to him,” Jones said.
“It's a special charity to people in football, and they've done incredible work in trying to find a cure for MND.
“I'm excited. It will be a really special day.”
Though Melbourne and Collingwood's Queen's Birthday clash has been moved to the SCG due to Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions, the pre-game event will remain at its traditional home at the MCG.
“It is a shame there won't be the game at the ‘G, but the mantra of the Big Freeze is Play On,” Jones said.
“We have to play on and roll with whatever hand we have been dealt with at the moment.
“Unfortunately Victoria's COVID outbreak has coincided with this big event.
“But the organisers have found a way to keep going, play on and make it work.
“We've never done it like this before, so it will be special, unique and one to remember.”
Though Jones is remaining tight-lipped about her costume, the mother of two revealed there may have already been a leak in the family.
“Everyone wants to know what I'm going dressed as, so I'm trying to keep it a secret which is tricky,” she said.
“But my grade 1 daughter Mila just announced to her homeschool class what I was going dressed as, so a few people may know.”
One person Jones is taking inspiration from is her Fox Footy colleague Nick Riewoldt.
“A highlight for me was Nick's performance a couple years ago as Freddy Mercury, that's hard to top,” Jones said.
“And it gets bigger and better every year. We've had some fabulous sliders, the costumes and performances.”
Echuca born-and-raised, Jones encouraged the twin towns to get behind the FightMND cause where they could.
“I'm sure there is people in Echuca and Moama walking around with the blue beanie on and will be watching the slide and donating where they can,” she said.
“Neale comes from a great country town himself, so people from our community of Echuca-Moama can really identify with Neale as a good country bloke who is going through a really tough time at the moment.
“As you see with the AFL community getting behind Neale, no one does that better than a small town and community.”
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