READY TO RALLY: Cruisin' Along organiser Terry Davis and participants Orange mayor John Davis and David Willing with their cars. They are among 33 cars taking part to raise funds for Western Care Lodge. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 0307cruisin1
THERE will be dirt, dust and back roads but this year’s Cruisin’ Along car rally could also be the most fun you will ever have.
Organisers are gearing up for a bumper rally this year to raise funds for construction of stage two of Western Care Lodge in Orange.
The lodge is the home away from home for people undergoing cancer treatment and the $1.4 million stage two construction has a $640,000 shortfall.
Now in its fifth year Cruisin’ Along has raised over $300,000 towards the lodge’s stage one construction.
Cruisin’ Along organiser Terry Davis said people from nine to 75 years of age have taken part in past rallies.
“It’s great fun and we’ve had people that have gone overseas on holidays and they’ve done this and they say this is the best trip they’ve had,” he said.
The eight-day rally kicks off on Friday, May 3 and drivers will trek 2920 kilometres from Orange to Wilpena Pound and back.
“We try and find dirt roads and we get lost and we’ve stayed in some pretty funny places,” Mr Davis said.
There are 33 cars, with 65 people, in this year’s rally with plenty of room for more to join in.
Entry is $500 a car and all cars are encouraged to gain donations from selling advertising space on their cars.
“Five hundred dollars is very cheap and it goes straight to the lodge,” Mr Davis said.
Entrants are also encouraged to gather items from local businesses to auction at the various towns along the route,.
Over $100,000 was raised during last year’s Cruisin’ Along rally, with $20,000 already raised for this year’s event.
Since the lodge opened in October 2012 its guests have come from as far away as Lightning Ridge, Bourke, Young and Mudgee to stay while they undergo cancer treatment in Orange.
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