McLardy McShane held its fifth Golf Challenge charity day on January 6, raising more than $125,000 – a record for the event – towards helping FightMND find effective treatments for Motor Neurone Disease. 

Former Essendon AFL player and FightMND patron Neale Daniher and his family supported the Mornington Peninsula’s Moonah Links golf course event, attended by 120 golfers.  

“We are very excited to announce it was a great success,” CEO Don McLardy said. “This takes our fundraising from the golf day alone to over $500,000 – something we are very proud of.” 

A dinner at The Continental Sorrento, attended by 190, featured MC Russel Howcroft and high-profile Australians Mick Molloy, Sam Pang, Andy Maher, Andy Lee, Max Gawn, Mike Sheahan and Caroline Wilson, who all donated their time.  

“An incredible line up, they had the crowd laughing all night,” Mr McLardy said. 

McLardy McShane plans to run similar golf days this year in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth after appointing manager Bianca Galjar last year. 

A brand new Volvo XC40 Plus valued at $60,000 featured as a hole-in-one prize, and Mr McLardy and Director Mike McShane challenged playing pairs to a $250 donation to beat their score. 

“120 players joined us ... trying to beat the team of Mike and I, which most did! A fantastic day of golfing,” Mr McLardy said. 

“These days form an important part of the culture of McLardy McShane and our platform of giving back to the community. Aside from that, they are great fun and a fantastic way to get close to clients and insurer supporters.”  

MND is a debilitating disease that gradually takes away the patient’s use of their arms and legs, ability to eat and swallow, speak and finally breathe in an average of just 27 months.