Team Monica Hayes to drive for charity golf day

A BELLARINE fundraising team will approach a new way of raising awareness for motor neurone disease (MND) when it hosts its first charity golf day this Friday.

Portarlington-based MND charity group Team Monica Hayes, named after late public servant and local community figure Monica Hayes who passed away from MND in 2016, will host its first charity golf day on Friday at Portarlington Golf Club.

The golf day will involve upwards of 80 golfers for a four-person Ambrose event, before Fight MND ambassador Terry Daniher will headline the day’s lunch.

Team member Darren Hellmann said it would be an honour to have Mr Daniher attend the golf day.

“It’s great for us as a team, it’s great for the event as a drawcard to have Terry in attendance.

“I know people who are already confirmed to come along are doing so just to meet him and hear some of his stories.

“When Geoff [Fary] reached out to Terry, he didn’t hesitate to be a part of the day, we met him at last year’s Daniher’s Drive, he said he was willing to do anything to help out our fundraising.

“So we took him up on that offer.”

This year’s team members of Team Monica Hayes are Mr Hellmann, Mick Doyle, Greg Hughes, and Geoff Fary – Ms Hayes’ husband who started the fundraiser back in 2016.

The team will again hit the road in Ms Hayes’ old Subaru from October 12-15 as part of the annual Daniher’s Drive, raising funds and raising awareness of MND through regional towns.

Mr Fary said Team Monica Hayes is on the verge of reaching $150,000 raised since the group started seven years ago, as the Freeze MND initiative reaches the $100 million mark.

“It’s been a remarkable effort from a little community like Portarlington over the years,” Mr Fary said.

“I first started this initiative when Monica was still alive, and she was delighted when we went past $2,000 before she died.

“She would’ve been over the moon to see the way this fundraiser has grown.”

Anyone looking to attend the event can do so by contacting Mr Hellmann on 0413 607 645.

To donate to Team Monica Hayes, head to danihers.fightmnd.org.au/team-monica-hayes