Portarlington team honour Monica Hayes and raise $33,000 for MND research

PORTARLINTON-based Team Monica Hayes raised a whopping $33,000 to go towards MND research and the search for a cure through their participation in this year’s Daniher’s Drive.

For six consecutive years the team has been involved in the cause, motivated to raise money for MND research after friend and family member Monica Hayes died from the disease in 2016.

Led by Monica’s husband, Geoff Fary, the four-man team of Mick Doyle, Greg Hughes, Darren Hellman and Fary set off in Monica’s trusty Subaru on Friday, a day later than anticipated due to flash flooding that was occurring in Wallan and Myrtleford.

Alongside more than 80 other cars completing the Daniher’s Drive, the team travelled directly to East Gippsland, then to Lakes Entrance and back during the latter part of the weekend.

Team leader Fary said funds raised this year were phenomenal, with the team raising $8,000 more than their goal and the overall appeal raising more than $3 million.

“It was very successful in terms of fundraising, we set a new record for team Monica Hayes and raised $33,000 which is a remarkable effort for a small community,” he said.

“In terms of the drive itself, we had to abandon part of it due to the floods and weather events going on.

“It would have been irresponsible (to go through the weather) and we just left a day later and went down via Yarragon to Lakes Entrance, down to Metung and around South Gippsland.

“What’s quite extraordinary is the sustainability of the drive, we’ve been doing this for six years now and you’d expect the support to tailor off as people’s recollection of Monica’s passing fades, but if anything, the impetus has grown.”

Fary said the team had a terrific level of support from local sponsors who donated to have their decals printed on the car during the drive.

He also spoke fondly of the impact that spearhead Neale Daniher has had on the appeal and the level of admiration he has for the role that Daniher played during the 2022 drive even in his depleting health.

“Neale is a remarkable survivor, he’s an extraordinary man,” Fary said.

“While the ravage of this dreadful disease is quite apparent due to him losing most part the ability to eat and to speak, he still managed to turn up on two occasions during the drive and he even got on the dancefloor!

“Even though he had great difficulty speaking, he acknowledged the terrific support that (Fight MND) get from Portarlington, it was very moving.”

Fary said that over the six years of completing the Daniher’s Drive, the team has raised now in excess of $150,000 for MND research.

He noted that he was sure that Monica would be very proud of their efforts.