Inspiring McKinnon's selfless act

Paralysed footballer Alex McKinnon has offered to donate a $250,000 fee from a proposed television interview to a wheelchair-bound girl he met in hospital, according to close friend and former teammate Willie Mason.

As the NRL prepares for this weekend's Rise for Alex round to raise money for the injured Newcastle player, inspiring McKnnon has shown his selflessness with a pledge to help a girl, who lost her family.

Mason revealed McKinnon's amazing offer while appearing on Fox Sport's rugby league program NRL 360 on Wednesday night.

McKinnon reportedly met the girl in hospital while he was receiving treatment for his neck injury and was so moved by her plight, he immediately offered to help.

It is understood the girl lost her parents and has four sisters to raise.

While the Knights said there were no immediate plans for McKinnon to do a paid television interview, Mason told presenters Ben Ikin and Paul Kent of the pledge as he spoke of the 22-year-old's amazing spirit.

"If you go into the [hospital] wards there’s people way worse off than Alex," Mason said."A young girl, she lost her family and she was in the same position as Alex and he’s going to do a thing with 60 Minutes and they’re going to offer him $250,000 and he said 'you can have it'.

"He didn’t want anything to do with [the fee].

"She had no money and he’s getting all this help from the NRL and all these fundraisers ... so he knows he’s going to be fine.

"But this poor girl who had nothing she’s got to raise four of her sisters with no parents and in a wheelchair and he just said you can have that money when I do that interview."

However, just moments after Mason made the comments the Newcastle Knights hosed down the speculation about an interview taking place, tweeting: “To clarify @mase21’s comment on #NRL360 - Alex McKinnon has no plans to do a 60 Minutes interview - #RiseForAlex”.

The revelation comes just days after McKinnon spoke of his determination to walk again following the devastating neck injury that has left him wheel-chair bound after a tackle gone wrong while playing against Melbourne.

Speaking to the media for the first time since the incident at the launch of the NRL's 'Rise For Alex' round 19 at ANZ Stadium on Monday, the 22-year-old said he was hoping one day soon to resume a normal life.

"As much as I would love to get home and get back to my family and get back to Newcastle and get on with my life, I want to walk again," McKinnon said on Monday.

"You see a lot of stories about people who get on with their lives and don't walk again. My focus is to get as much back of my movement as I can and I am slowly improving.

"For example, when I first got diagnosed I was a C4 - all that is shoulder movement. Nothing else. No fingers, no movement in your legs, or anything like that.

"I am slowly progressing with the movement, I am a C7 now."

"It's going to be a slow and long process but I am willing to do that.

"I'm 22 and I'm going to give it my best shot."