The night will raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Research team at Macquarie University with the hope of one day finding a cure for the disease.

Shellharbour local Adam Regal lost his dad to the disease in 2013 and just 12 months later Adam himself was diagnosed.

Adam and I grew up together in Kiama Downs so watching him and his wife Kylie go through their fight against MND has been tough but I’m amazed at how positive they both are and how strong they have both been.

It’s been awesome to see the whole community rally together to support such a well-loved family by hosting different benefit nights for the cause including the annual Rock for Regal night.

Den Murray is the driving force behind the Rock for Regal initiative which has raised over $12,000 for MND research so far.

Den now resides in Melbourne but is originally from Kiama and has known the Regal family for a long time.

“I had no idea what MND was back then, but it really hit home when Adam was diagnosed because we are the same age and he has such a young family” Den said.

“I wasn’t sure what I could do to help but being involved in the music scene I decided to just do what I can to help get the word out and hopefully find a cure.”

The first Rock for Regal packed out Kiama Leagues Club back in 2014 and was followed up by another night in 2015.

Den also hosted a Melbourne show at The Cherry Bar last year but this year is set to be the biggest yet with shows in Adelaide, Bendigo, Wollongong and a 24-hour festival in Melbourne.

The Wollongong show will see six bands perform at Dicey Riley’s Hotel on Saturday, August 20 with free entry and all proceeds from raffle prizes and donation buckets going to the cause.

Performing on the night will be Crash Tragic, 19-Twenty’s Kane Dennelly, Fires were Started feat. DJ Business, Dos Enos, The Proxy and Mac Tango.

To get the ball rolling, Den is also selling merchandise online including shirts, stubbie holders and signed posters from the bands in the lead-up to the night at Pozible.com. See link here pozible.com/project/rock-4-regal-1

Motor neurone disease (MND) is the name given to a group of diseases in which the nerve cells (neurones) controlling the muscles that enable us to move, speak, breathe and swallow undergo degenerate.

www.haworthguitars.com.au