MG Car Club Vic Foundation/ Motor Neurone Disease (MND)
Run to Ballarat
Several months ago MGCC Vic Foundation Trustee Peter Harris because of his past history with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) fund raising, was asked whether his MGCC friends would be interested in assisting with MND fund raisers who had earned the title of Ambassador (having each raised in excess of $10,000 over the past 12 months).
The Ambassadors reward was a week long action packed “outward bound” type activity conducted in the Grampians in western Victoria.
Our role was to transport the Ambassadors to their initial overnight location in Ballarat.
Doug Hastie was consequently requested to pull together a group of 15 MGs and their drivers to act as chauffeurs.
The following members had no hesitation in accepting the request –
Graeme Adams (MGB), Rod Anderson (MGA 1500), Kevin Daly (MGF), Rob Forster (Midget), Pater Harris (MGF), Doug Hastie (MGF), Rob Hastie (MGTF), Kay Herlihy (MGTF), Michael Harlihy (TC), Ian Jenkins (MGF), Jim McKenzie (MGA 1600), John Oliver (TC), David Trebilcock (MGB), Rod Wilson (MGB B1), and Maja Zwarteveen MG ZR). Regrettably Kevin Daly had to withdraw at the 11th hour due to a personal issue.
Monday March 16 provided, what will probably be for many of us, the last driving event before we start to practice ‘social distancing”.
With magnificent weather and the beautiful backdrop of the Brighton Bathing Boxes Car Park, 14 magnificent machines bearing the MG logo headed off on a drive to Ballarat.
It was all part of a documentary on the fund raising project run by MND Victoria and Charity TV, a production company which has sold the program to the 7 Network for showing later in the year.
Over $100,000 has been raised by 10 people who were off for a week of activity, starting in Ballarat. The MGCC Vic Foundation were asked to help.
As one of the ten Ambassadors was withdrawn as a corona virus precaution, the remaining nine chose their car of choice and off we went, with spare cars, “just in case”.
With a couple of dubious re-grouping moments on the Ring Road and the Western Highway (that won’t happen if we’re asked again) and the blown water hose on an MGF, the group had a great roof-down day with some lovely people being rewarded for raising money to help find a cure for this dreadful disease.
We were blessed with company of Club member Jeff Selton (an MND patient) who was driven in his MG ZR in the convoy by Maja Zwarteveen. Great to see you Jeff.
A big Club Foundation thank you to the drivers who took part in the day. You have helped ‘to make a difference’.
Thank you to Doug Hastie for his invaluable assistance
Peter Harris
Foundation Member … who stood behind his treasured MGF on the Western Highway for four hours waiting to be trailered home. But still happy.
(I didn’t feel Safe sitting in it with B Doubles passing at 110 k/h)