Leichhardt locals driving cancer awareness

Leichhardt locals driving cancer awareness

by Samantha Jonscher

 

From May 31 to June 6, two Leichhardt residents and brothers-in-law are set to cross the outback in a beat-up 2002 Ford Falcon to raise money for the Cancer Council.

Matt Pitt and Phil Oye will join 250 other teams in the fifth annual Shitbox Rally, an event that sees fundraisers drive across roads less travelled in cars worth less than $1000.

Calling themselves the Road Warriors, Mr Pitt and Mr Oye will leave their families behind for two weeks to complete the 3500km drive from Perth to Darwin.

Mr Pitt, who also participated last year, got involved because he’s “not someone who is prepared to shave their head, run a marathon or climb a mountain to raise money for [charity].”

“But I love camping, the outdoors and seeing as much of the country as I can, so this is a perfect fit.”

Mr Pitt is doing it for his mother, whom he lost to cancer ten years ago.

The Road Warriors’ Falcon was painted by the two men’s children in what Mr Oye calls “Jackson Pollock style”.

Sourcing a ‘shitbox’ for the rally was not difficult. The pair bought the car from a friend of Mr Oye’s who was happy for it to have a “good death”.

“There’s a fine line. You want to do it in the crappiest car possible, but you also really want to make it [to the finish line],” said Mr Oye.

The convoy of rundown cars will face unsealed roads and water crossings, but Mr Pitt says he is not worried.

He has basic mechanical skills and believes that “it’s always easy to find someone [from the rally community] who is willing to help out” on the road. Organisers will also be providing a crew of mechanics to help with car troubles.

“There has to be risk involved. Otherwise it’s not fun,” Mr Pitt said.

So far, the two men have raised nearly $6400, well exceeding their $5000 target.

“It’s a great adventure and a pleasure to share the experience with other people [who] are passionate about the cause,” said Mr Pitt.

For more information, or if you would like to donate to the Road Warriors, go to: https://shitboxrally2014.everydayhero.com/au/roadwarriors.

 

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