By Esther Lauaki
Former AFL great Neale Daniher brought the fight for a cure for Motor Neurone Disease to Wyndham last week.
Mr Daniher – who is the face of the Fight MND campaign – launched the annual Daniher’s Drive on Thursday from Werribee Open Range Zoo.
The tour takes in the Surf Coast, Central Victoria and the Yarra Valley, before finishing on the Mornington Peninsula.
In honour of the launch, the state government made a $1 million donation towards the cause.
Mr Daniher welcomed the funding announcement – which took the state’s total contribution to the fight against MND to $5million since 2015.
“The premier has been a great supporter of Daniher’s Drive and FightMND, it’s terrific to have his support,” he said. “A million dollars is an incredible number and we are very appreciative of him getting behind the fight to find treatments and a cure. This is amazing … The fight doesn’t stop here though, Victorians and Australians in general have been so generous – that’s why we do the drive to get out into the communities and thank them.”
First held in 2015, Daniher’s Drive has raised more than $7 million to aide the fight against MND – and event organisers hope to take that tally to more than $10 million this year.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he was proud to support Mr Daniher in his drive to find a cure.
“The difference he has made to thousands of Australians with MND is almost incalculable, and all while facing this insidious disease,” Mr Andrews said. “As Neale often says, motor neurone disease is a beast, but thanks to his bravery and the generosity of so many Victorians, we will one day find a cure.”
