Mr Ward and long-time friend Derek Blomfield – team Two Dads – have just wrapped up their second Kidzfix Rally, raising $18,700 for the Kidzfix Foundation.

In total the 2016 rally, which wrapped up in Bendigo on Saturday, September 17, raised more than $144,000 for the foundation.

The majority of the funds have now been donated to Bendigo Hospital for specialised telelink equipment, which Mr Ward said will make a huge difference for regional families with sick kids.

“They’ll be able to diagnose kids from regional Victoria through the telelink with specialists [from] Melbourne so they can hopefully diagnose them and treat them locally,” he said.

“Hopefully that keeps families together and costs down.”

He said regional families often have to split up when a child becomes sick, with the costs of accommodation in the city, meals, baby sitters and missing work all adding up to a big financial strain.

“The important thing is to keep those families together and get everyone the specialist treatment they deserve and that people in the city take for granted,” he said.

Funds were also donated to purchase a wall-sized screen to entertain sick kids in the hospital waiting room, while LaTrobe Hospital received $10,000 for a blanket warmer so sick kids “can have a nice warm blanky to comfort them in a pretty scary time”.

Team Two Dads was again named highest individual fundraiser, while Mr Ward has been made a director of the Kidzfix Foundation.

Next year’s rally will finish at Dubbo and is also set to take in Tamworth.

Mr Ward said the foundation will soon be seeking local projects helping sick children to direct funds to.

They are also looking for more rally teams to come on board.

For more information about participating in the 2017 rally, or to propose a project for the rally to sponsor, visit www.kidzfix.com.au or www.facebook.com/KidzfixRally/