By Jed Lanyon
The fifth edition of FightMND’s Daniher’s Drive has exceeded all expectations by raising over $3.1 million towards the fight against Motor Neuron Disease (MND).
In five years, Daniher’s Drive has raised nearly $11 million in vital funds that will be aimed at treatment for sufferers and to find a cure for the disease.
The official announcement took place at the drive’s final event on Sunday 13 October at a breakfast at Mt Eliza, with over 320 participants and over 80 cars making the trip from Werribee.
Brett Stanley along with three of his colleagues from Black and White Real Estate in Healesville took part in the drive, which travelled through Marysville and Healesville on Saturday 12 October.
“This is my third year participating in Daniher’s Drive… My involvement came about through a close friend who was one of the four in my car, losing his mother in law five years ago to the disease.
“The great thing about this drive is the friendly participants all working together for the same purpose of raising funds to find cure for the disease.
“The most enjoyable parts of the drive is the travelling and collecting funds from generous people in regional country towns, attending the evening fundraising benefits and the camaraderie and friendships made along the way with the other participants.
Mr Stanley said that his team have already started planning the fundraising activities for next year’s drive.
The team ‘Robyn’s Rollers’ raised over $6000 for the cause.
MND affects the muscles that control speaking, breathing and swallowing by degeneration.
The average lifespan is two years from diagnosis with only 10 per cent living longer than five years.
More than 2000 people are currently diagnosed with MND in Australia, but there is no known cure or treatment.
FightMND CEO Jamie Howden said, “This figure is simply amazing – the grand total with all our sponsorships, teams fundraising and Victorian government funding is a record for any year with $3.1 million.
“It’s amazing to think that five years ago when this was just an idea and a starting point that the grand total now across that period is a staggering $10.7million.”
