In 2022, A trip to Bunnings Warehouse and an iconic Bunnings sausage sizzle served by Shitbox Rally fundraisers has kept the rally front of mind for Ambassador Kennedy, who is now a registered participant in Shitbox Rally Autumn 2024 along with 500 people.
Teams of two will leave Adelaide, SA on Saturday 13th April 2024 in the morning, then, after 7 days of driving over 3,000kms on dusty, mostly unsealed roads they will cross the finish line in Perth, WA.
Cars must be worth $1,500 or less (hence the name of the rally), roadworthy, registered with no 4WD or AWD allowed, and teams need to raise a minimum of $5,000 to participate. Dress up themes provide amusement and the reward of making camp each night is an evening spent under the stars in rural and remote locations. While breakdowns are guaranteed, this challenges teams to work together to make the finish line after their adventure through the outback.
The fundraising goal for Shitbox Rally Autumn 2024 is set to $2 million with teams already raising over $1.3 million. Box Rallies (Shitbox Rally and Mystery Box Rally) is the leading individual fundraiser for Cancer Council nationally generating over $42.7 million to Cancer research plus media awareness for Cancer Council. This helps the lives of millions of Australians who are facing their unknown journeys: https://www.shitboxrally.com.au/the-cause/
James Freeman OAM, who founded Box Rallies after losing both of his parents to cancer within 12 months of each other said: "I am extremely proud and excited that the US Ambassador to Australia has chosen to take part in Shitbox Rally. Being able to take Ambassador Kennedy into the Australian Outback with another 498 incredible people will be a true honour. The Ambassador will participate in the same manner as everyone else with fundraising for cancer research, driving a shitbox and camping under the stars. The rallies are such incredible experiences so who knows, maybe this will be the start of Ambassador Kennedy rallying with us yearly!
Shitbox Rally is not a race, but a reward for fundraising efforts and a chance to explore Australia. The Rally draws teams from around the country to help achieve the extraordinary. Many have been affected by cancer in one way or another, whether it be family, friends, or themselves personally. The rally not only wants to raise awareness and money for Cancer Council but also wants to offer support and a friendly ear to those that have suffered or are suffering.
Departing Adelaide, we start a 3 day pilgrimage up the Oodnadatta Track to Uluru, then past Kata Tjuta and off towards the Gibson Desert for the journey down the Great Central Road to the Southwest and our destination, Perth. This is the second time we are heading from Adelaide to Perth, but with only two of the original stopovers. This route has a lot more unsealed roads to test the cars and drivers.
Teams will have red sand under their feet from night one, then bask in the glory of the Oodnadatta Track before fine dining with white tablecloths and the Field of Light dinner in Uluru. Hospitality from indigenous communities on the Great Central Road with the red sand and dust only giving way at the last moment before a final day's drive across the vast wheatbelts to the East of Perth. A sensational route.
Teams not only pull together to help each other through the challenges associated with driving a $1,500 car on these remote outback tracks, but also help and support each other through openness, mateship and camaraderie from people who have gone through similar hardships with their own cancer stories. Often fundraising and rallying for family members or friends affected by Cancer, this common experience unites each rally team to become a part of the larger Box Rallies family."
