Daniher clan gains new honorary members in annual charity drive
Dozens of Danihers and AFL greats were among the 320 participants who travelled all across Victoria in the Daniher’s Drive car rally, raising a record $3.1 mil for the Fight MND cause.
VIC News
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A convoy fuelled by kindness and a drive to defeat “the beast” has seen a record amount raised for Neale Daniher’s annual car rally.
A who’s who of former AFL footballers and dozens of Danihers led more than 320 participants on the 1030km four-day trip, which this year raised $3.1 million for the Fight MND cause.
This has seen almost $11 million netted from Daniher’s Drive over the past five years, which is funding research, clinical trials and drug development into the progressive and incurable muscle wasting disease.
Starting in Werribee on Thursday, the convoy of more than 80 cars finished yesterday in Mt Eliza, with detours to the Bellarine Peninsula, Creswick and Wangaratta.
Fight MND campaign director and Neale’s daughter, Bec Daniher said while the extended and immediate Daniher family was well represented, they were buoyed by support across the state.
“I feel like everyone that comes on the Daniher’s drive is part of the Daniher clan now. It’s fantastic, it’s a growing family,” Ms Daniher said.
“It’s mind-blowing to think we’ve raised this much money.”
Ms Daniher said the highlight for her family was meeting passionate locals from country towns, so they could thank them for their year-round support.
Another special moment was seeing her dad on stage during the final night’s gala dinner in a duet with former Melbourne captain David Neitz.
She said this big effort on behalf of her dad — the campaign brainchild, and a man struggling with his speech — cemented to the room why continued research into motor neurone disease was needed.
“We can see that the money that has been fundraised so far is having impact. We are getting progress,” Ms Daniher said.
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“We’re not there yet, so we do need the Australian community to continue to back us until there more effective treatments and a cure for the beast that is MND.
“We need to find the answers for all those out there who are currently suffering from it, and for those who might be diagnosed in the future.”