Team Monica Hayes ready to hit the road

PORTARLINGTON’S Geoff Fary and his fellow team members will hit the road for Daniher’s Drive next week.

Established by prominent AFL identity Neale Daniher, himself a sufferer of the incurable and terminal Motor Neurone Disease (MND), the drive is now an annual awareness and fundraising event involving more than 100 cars.

Again this year “Team Monica Hayes” – which consists of her husband Geoff Fary and son Sam Fary, brother Bernard Hayes and Sam’s mate Marcus Poh – will take part in the four-day event from October 11.

August 26 this year marked the second anniversary of Portarlington identity Monica Hayes’ death from MND – a particularly cruel condition that slowly limits the ability of nerves to convey messages from the brain.

It was Monica’s fervent wish that a cure be found for this pernicious condition.

Mr Fary said Team Monica Hayes had received incredible support and was humbled by the generosity received thus far.

“We’re hopeful that we will reach our $20,000 target this year – but are still just a little bit short,” he said.

“As well as being supported by the Portarlington  Demons Football and Netball Club, this year we have also been sponsored by Rymac Automotive (who serviced Monica’s car), as well as local organisations such as Sunshine City Lions Club and the Bellarine Ag Society – and many individuals who remember her fondly.”

Mr Fary said since Monica’s death, Team Monica Hayes had raised almost $60,000 for the important cause.

And, unlike some other foundations, more than 92 cents in every dollar raised by Fight MND goes directly to medical research and advocacy.

The 2018 Daniher’s Drive convoy will depart from Government House on October 11 and the drive will take in parts of central Victoria, the south east of South Australia and the magnificent Bellarine over four days of fun and fundraising.

The group will stop throughout the journey for some community events in various towns and will have overnight stops in Horsham, Mt Gambier and Geelong.

Anyone wishing to support the “Fight MND Foundation” can do so by contacting Geoff Fary at PO Box 204 Portarlington 3223 or emailing [email protected].