By Esther Lauaki
Former AFL great Neale Daniher brought the fight for a cure for motor neurone disease to the bush last week.
Mr Daniher – who has been the face of the Fight MND campaign for the past three years – launched the fourth Daniher’s Drive on Thursday from Government House with his first stop at Woodend.
Almost 400 participants in about 100 cars took part in this year’s fundraising car rally which stopped at the Macedon Ranges, Stawell, Daylesford and Horsham before heading to South Australia and back by Sunday.
The total raised by Daniher’s Drive is
$4.6 million in the past three years.
Daniher said this year’s target was
$2.5 million.
“I’ve been overwhelmed with the support of the community,” he said.
“I think they get it – people are dying.
“With motor neurone disease it’s really a death sentence and it’s simple – we need funding to help our researchers find a treatment.
“And we will find it, never quick enough for me, but we’ve got tremendous support.”
Premier Daniel Andrews pledged $400,000 to the cause last Thursday on behalf of Victorians.
“He is a great inspiration to every single Victorian,” Mr Andrews said.
“No one would have held it against Neale Daniher if, when he got his diagnosis, he decided to spend this last part of his life with family and friends doing things that were all about him.
“But instead he has turned over these precious weeks, months and years to raising money and raising awareness.”
