08 May 2015
The sixth annual Shitbox Rally will take over the capital tomorrow morning when 200 shitboxes gather at Questacon Car Park in Canberra before they drive off into the Australian outback finishing up in Townsville, all in the name of cancer research. Teams sporting fancy dress will fire up their rust buckets at 9:30am and the colourful convoy will leave behind the roundabouts of Parliament House to take on the outback, up through central Australia along the Birdsville Track and to the beaches of Townsville, with some of the country's most iconic towns in between.
Over 7 days participants will drive 3,600kms as they garner support, and are very close to achieving their goal to raise $1.2 million for much-needed cancer research and prevention. The rally, which started in 2010, has already raised over $5.8 million, making it the largest private fundraiser for the Cancer Council in Australia.
The 200-strong convoy of Shitboxes, worth less than $1,000 each, with a combined weight equivalent to two blue whales, will then make their way through rural New South Wales onto the Birdsville Track, through South Australia's Flinders Ranges and alongside the Simpson Desert before crossing into Queensland and arriving in Townsville on May 15th.
In the trip of a lifetime, as participants bid farewell to the comfort of sealed roads, the picturesque backdrop of Australia's untainted outback will become the setting for fancy dress nights, movie screenings, the infamous Shit-oke and lifelong friendships.
It won't just be Shit-oke that has the teams in the limelight. If Silverton thought it was a show when the post-apocalyptic Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior thundered through the plains in 1981, before Priscilla Queen of the Desert swept onto the stage in 1994, they won't know what's hit them come May 2015 when the shitboxers, decorated to the nines, strike their pose against the local set.
And although the camels at the annual Boulia races might have more horsepower than the cars set to take up the challenge, the people of Boulia won't have seen anything like Shitbox Rally when it roles into town. To top off a rally of infamous capability, teams will be brushing up on their prehistoric learning as Shitbox Rally meets “Hughie” the Muttaburrasaurus on Australia's famous Dinosaur Trail in Hughenden.
Whilst the frivolous fun of the rally is made present each and every day, it's important to remember why the teams are so eager to partake in the arduous adventure. The generosity and camaraderie of the Shitbox community over the past six years has contributed significantly to the ongoing advances in cancer prevention, research and treatment.
As Shitbox Rally Founder James Freeman explains, funds raised really do make a difference.
“This years fundraising activity has hit a milestone with $5.8 million raised since the first rally in 2010. It is a huge achievement and one I am very proud of. The teams from each rally have worked very hard to come up with different creative ways to raise the funds to participate in the rallies and the results are proven. With this years rally we may well reach $6 million raised in 6 years. Both the Cancer Council and I can't thank the participants enough.”
The rally is a reward for all the fundraising the dedicated participants do leading up to the rally, with each team raising a minimum $4,000 in an effort to help aid cancer research and experience some of Australia's most vast countryside. One of the rally's partners, Manheim, will auction off every car upon arrival into Townsville to raise some last minute funds.
Shitbox Rally caters to those who crave something different, providing an adventure of a lifetime all in the name of a good cause. For further information or to support the cause with a donation, visit http://www.facebook.com/shitboxrally or www.shitboxrally.com.au.
Overnight destinations along the route will include the following:
Saturday 9th May: Hay Park, Morgan Street, Hay
Sunday 10th May: Penrose Park, Miner's Drive, Silverton
Monday 11th May: Marree Hotel, Railway Terrance South, Marree
Tuesday 12th May: Birdsville Caravan Park, Florence Street, Birdsville
Wednesday 13th May: Boulia Rodeo Ground, Selwyn Road, Boulia
Thursday 14th May: Hughenden Showground, Stansfield Street, Hughenden
Friday 15th May: Townsville
ABOUT BOX RALLIES
Shitbox Rally is not a race but rather a challenge to achieve the unthinkable: to drive cars worth $1000 or less across Australia via some of its most arduous roads - all to raise money for cancer research. Shitbox Rally was founded in 2009 by James Freeman after both of his parents died from cancer within 12 months of each other as a way of raising money and awareness in the fight against cancer – a disease that now affects so many people. Over the last four years, Shitbox Rally has raised over $5.8 million for cancer research, making the rally the largest independent fundraiser for the Cancer Council.
The rally is a reward for all the fundraising the dedicated participants do to help find a cure for cancer and it's a chance to meet like-minded people and see our vast and beautiful country in a totally unique way. To qualify to be in Shitbox Rally, supporters must have raised a minimum of $4,000.
2015 marks the sixth Shitbox Rally. Previous rally routes include 2014 Perth to Darwin via the Gibb River Road, 2013 Adelaide to Fremantle via Uluru, 2012 Melbourne to Cairns via Innamincka, 2011 Brisbane to Darwin via the Savannah Way and 2010 Sydney to Alice Springs via the Oodnadatta Track.
For more details on rally requirements please visit www.shitboxrally.com.au.
Shitbox Rally is expanding globally with the first international destination confirmed as New Zealand, in February 2016. To register for 2016 Shitbox Rally New Zealand, or to find out more information, visit www.shitboxrally.co.nz.
MEDIA CONTACT
Holysmoke! Agency
Contact on the rally
Amanda Fry
Team Red Carpet Ready
P: 0418 262 282 or Satellite Phone 0147 187 221
E: amanda@holysmokeagency.com.au
Contact in the office
Jade Glashoff or Connie Townsend
P: +61 2 8599 1098 | M: +61 401 845 065
