THAT’S A WRAP: SHITBOX RALLY 2016 RAISES $1.52 MILLION FOR CANCER RESEARCH AND PREVENTION
Announcement posted by Shitbox Rally 20 May 2016
Photo Credit: Lachlan Gardiner
After driving through floods and snow and sailing across Bass Strait, the seventh annual Shitbox Rally 2016 has wrapped up for another year, raising an enormous $1.52 million, exceeding the target of $1.4 million. The rally has raised over $7.8 million since its inception in 2010, making it the largest independent fundraiser for the Cancer Council in Australia.
Kicking off in tropical Mackay, Queensland on 7 May, the colour convoy of 200 shitboxes, worth less than $1,000 each, drove over 3,500kms through some of Australia’s most dusty, muddy and rugged roads to raise awareness and critical funds for cancer research and prevention. The rally marked an end to its 7-day adventure this year in Hobart, Tasmania.
Box Rallies Founder, James Freeman, speaks very fondly of this challenging yet successful rally.
“I am truly impressed by how the teams have made every endeavour to raise money. The team that raised the most funds was Marco Giacomazzi and Nigel Mukhi from Mario Bros, who managed an impressive $32,392.67 and broke the rally’s record. The rally brought together like-minded individuals that otherwise may never meet on a memorable and rewarding adventure, all in the name of raising much-needed funds for the fight against cancer. A heart-felt thank you to everyone that has supported this year’s rally, and I am very proud of what we have achieved.”
Alongside quintessential Australian sights, the rally also experienced a unique ‘Shipbox Rally’ leg this year. For the first time ever in the rally’s history, shitboxes were transformed into `shipboxes’ with all 450 participants dressing up as pirates to sail overnight across the tumultuous seas of Bass Strait with Spirit of Tasmania. This was also the first time the rally set wheels on Tasmanian soil.
Shitbox Rally 2016 proved to be another test of endurance for both teams and their beloved vehicles. Despite the rally encountering intense rainfall on their second night and making unplanned stopovers, of the 200 shitboxes that triumphantly drove out of Bluewater Quay in Mackay, only 8 cars did not make it to the finish line at Red Square, Hobart. There were some spectacular breakdowns along the way including a complete engine transplant for a 1975 Ford Escort panel van from an engine found under a bush at the back of Bourke, making the support teams pull more than a few MacGyver moments in reviving cars to stay on the road.
The post-rally auction held at Manhiem Hobart was an emotional spectacle of well-loved shitboxes going under the hammer and the auction raised $42,500. Local residents from Bridgewater showed their support, bidding against some of the teams who were not ready to farewell their cars.
Following the auction, the 2016 Shitbox Rally award ceremony celebrated those teams that had given their all to the rally. Awards were given out for Best Car, Best Team Theme, Best Breakdown, Best Repair, Least Likely to Make It, Largest Fundraiser and for the team that upholds the essence of Shitbox Rally by helping their mates, Spirit of the Rally.
If you are looking for a remarkable adventure for a good cause, join the Shitbox Rally community and get involved in future rallies. Simply head to the “Contact Us” link on the website to put your name onto the database. For further information or to support the cause with a donation, visit http://www.facebook.com/shitboxrally or www.shitboxrally.com.au.
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 seven years, Shitbox Rally has raised over $7.8 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 put into research for prevention and ultimately 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.
2016 marked the seventh Shitbox Rally. Previous rally routes include 2015 Canberra to Townsville via the Birdsville Track, 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 please visit www.shitboxrally.com.au.
Overwhelmed by the tremendous success in its first international destination in New Zealand, Shitbox Rally NZ is returning in February 2017. To register for 2017 Shitbox Rally New Zealand, or to find out more information, visit www.shitboxrally.co.nz.
An additional $1.175 million has also been raised for Cancer Council Australia over the past three years of Mystery Box Rally, a similar concept also created by James Freeman. Known as Shitbox Rally’s mad baby brother, Mystery Box is, as the name suggests, a mysterious adventure in mystery cars with a shorter distance and less days travelling. Unlike Shitbox Rally, this rally takes care of finding the cars and each location is a mystery, adding to the excitement and adventure of the drive. For more information please visit www.mystery-box.com.au.
-ENDS-
MEDIA CONTACT
Holysmoke! Agency
Amanda Fry, Yvonne Kong or Laura Heslop
P: 0407 078 407
E amanda@holysmokeagency.com.au; yvonne@holysmokeagency.com; laura@holysmokeagency.com
After driving through floods and snow and sailing across Bass Strait, the seventh annual Shitbox Rally 2016 has wrapped up for another year, raising an enormous $1.52 million, exceeding the target of $1.4 million. The rally has raised over $7.8 million since its inception in 2010, making it the largest independent fundraiser for the Cancer Council in Australia.
Kicking off in tropical Mackay, Queensland on 7 May, the colour convoy of 200 shitboxes, worth less than $1,000 each, drove over 3,500kms through some of Australia’s most dusty, muddy and rugged roads to raise awareness and critical funds for cancer research and prevention. The rally marked an end to its 7-day adventure this year in Hobart, Tasmania.
Box Rallies Founder, James Freeman, speaks very fondly of this challenging yet successful rally.
“I am truly impressed by how the teams have made every endeavour to raise money. The team that raised the most funds was Marco Giacomazzi and Nigel Mukhi from Mario Bros, who managed an impressive $32,392.67 and broke the rally’s record. The rally brought together like-minded individuals that otherwise may never meet on a memorable and rewarding adventure, all in the name of raising much-needed funds for the fight against cancer. A heart-felt thank you to everyone that has supported this year’s rally, and I am very proud of what we have achieved.”
Alongside quintessential Australian sights, the rally also experienced a unique ‘Shipbox Rally’ leg this year. For the first time ever in the rally’s history, shitboxes were transformed into `shipboxes’ with all 450 participants dressing up as pirates to sail overnight across the tumultuous seas of Bass Strait with Spirit of Tasmania. This was also the first time the rally set wheels on Tasmanian soil.
Shitbox Rally 2016 proved to be another test of endurance for both teams and their beloved vehicles. Despite the rally encountering intense rainfall on their second night and making unplanned stopovers, of the 200 shitboxes that triumphantly drove out of Bluewater Quay in Mackay, only 8 cars did not make it to the finish line at Red Square, Hobart. There were some spectacular breakdowns along the way including a complete engine transplant for a 1975 Ford Escort panel van from an engine found under a bush at the back of Bourke, making the support teams pull more than a few MacGyver moments in reviving cars to stay on the road.
The post-rally auction held at Manhiem Hobart was an emotional spectacle of well-loved shitboxes going under the hammer and the auction raised $42,500. Local residents from Bridgewater showed their support, bidding against some of the teams who were not ready to farewell their cars.
Following the auction, the 2016 Shitbox Rally award ceremony celebrated those teams that had given their all to the rally. Awards were given out for Best Car, Best Team Theme, Best Breakdown, Best Repair, Least Likely to Make It, Largest Fundraiser and for the team that upholds the essence of Shitbox Rally by helping their mates, Spirit of the Rally.
If you are looking for a remarkable adventure for a good cause, join the Shitbox Rally community and get involved in future rallies. Simply head to the “Contact Us” link on the website to put your name onto the database. For further information or to support the cause with a donation, visit http://www.facebook.com/shitboxrally or www.shitboxrally.com.au.
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 seven years, Shitbox Rally has raised over $7.8 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 put into research for prevention and ultimately 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.
2016 marked the seventh Shitbox Rally. Previous rally routes include 2015 Canberra to Townsville via the Birdsville Track, 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 please visit www.shitboxrally.com.au.
Overwhelmed by the tremendous success in its first international destination in New Zealand, Shitbox Rally NZ is returning in February 2017. To register for 2017 Shitbox Rally New Zealand, or to find out more information, visit www.shitboxrally.co.nz.
An additional $1.175 million has also been raised for Cancer Council Australia over the past three years of Mystery Box Rally, a similar concept also created by James Freeman. Known as Shitbox Rally’s mad baby brother, Mystery Box is, as the name suggests, a mysterious adventure in mystery cars with a shorter distance and less days travelling. Unlike Shitbox Rally, this rally takes care of finding the cars and each location is a mystery, adding to the excitement and adventure of the drive. For more information please visit www.mystery-box.com.au.
-ENDS-
MEDIA CONTACT
Holysmoke! Agency
Amanda Fry, Yvonne Kong or Laura Heslop
P: 0407 078 407
E amanda@holysmokeagency.com.au; yvonne@holysmokeagency.com; laura@holysmokeagency.com