Supporting a legend: James McDonald, Rod Grinter, David Monks, Ben Daniher and David Neitz come together in Echuca as part of Daniher’s Drive. Photos: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The annual Daniher’s Drive made its way back to Echuca last Friday as the fight against motor neurone disease continues.
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The popular road trip through regional Victoria is one of the FightMND organisation’s biggest fundraisers, with the convoy of 220 people beginning at Essendon’s training facility The Hangar last Thursday.
Featuring a variety of old classics and modern-day cars, the drive reached Chemist Warehouse Echuca on Friday with a coterie of former AFL stars such as Terry and Anthony Daniher, David Nietz and Guy Rigoni making an appearance at the border.
Dee-lightful: David Neitz and Ben Holland have been a big part of Daniher’s Drive.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The drive is the brainchild of Melbourne legend Neale Daniher, who, after receiving an MND diagnosis in 2013, has been a tireless campaigner for greater awareness of the insidious disease and fighting to raise funds for research.
Now in its seventh year, Daniher’s Drive has raised more than $12 million since its first edition.
FightMND chief executive officer Fiona McIntosh said it was a special event for the organisation.
Doing it for Dad: Ben Daniher and Bec Daniher with young Billie at the Echuca portion of Daniher’s Drive.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
“People who come on the drive are either connected to the Daniher family or one of the family members of someone who has suffered from MND,” Ms McIntosh said.
“It’s a special group of people that share a common tragedy.
“Shortly after Neale was diagnosed, he had two ideas in mind. He had the idea of the Big Freeze and the drive, so it was something that was really close to his heart.
“The idea is that teams have to fundraise a minimum of $5000. This year, they’re about to nudge the $1 million mark.”
Gather around: Siblings Ben, Bec and Lauren Daniher with Chemist Warehouse mascot Wally.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Every day, two people are diagnosed and two die from MND. People commonly have a 27-month lifespan after being diagnosed with “the beast.”
With no effective cure, Ms McIntosh said raising funds for research was vital.
“We think that research is the best weapon against the beast, so our focus is raising money to invest money into research,” she said.
“We’ve raised about $95 million for research towards a cure as well as care initiatives.”
Neale’s son Ben’s birthday falls during the drive every year.
“We’re just blessed to have another day with him,” Daniher said.
“I’m nearly 30 now and I didn’t think he’d make it to my 30th birthday. We just consider ourselves really lucky.
“It’s been incredible. This time of year with the drive and earlier with the Big Freeze, he gets right up and about for it and still plays a big part in it.”
Wheels on the bus: The Daniher’s Drive bus.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
One way to support the drive teams and the work of FightMND is by purchasing a ticket in the Daniher’s Drive Jayco raffle to win a Jayco Starcraft Bushpack caravan worth $63,790.
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