“This will be our thank you tour,” Mayor of Orange councillor John Davis, who led the charge five years ago to get the rally up and running, said.

But it won’t be the last according to the mayor who says he would like to keep the tradition going to pay for ongoing costs of maintaining the lodge.

This year’s rally will head out of Orange on May 9 and head to Parkes. Along the way the rally will take in the towns of Wellington, Armatree, Gilgandra, Mudgee, Oberon, Canowindra, Grenfell, and Forbes, before returning to Orange on May 17.

Cr Davis said he was been kept up-to-date of the list of people who have come from outside of Orange to stay at the lodge while they receive radiotherapy treatment.

“But what we have to remember and what is very important is that there are no names from Orange and the people of our city are to be congratulated for their wonderful support since this project first began,” Cr Davis said.

During this year’s rally a number of small schools will be visited by vehicles  and are sure to attract the attention of young and old alike.

This year a stretch limousine, and a 1976 Datsun 120Y dubbed “The Green Frog” are among the vehicles of all ages and conditions to take to the road.

Rally co-ordinator Terry Davis said it is hoped businesses will come forward to supply goods and items for a raffle and auction to be held along the way.

The federal government provided $1.3 million to fund stage one of the lodge with the NSW Cancer Council donating $500,000.

The remaining funds - $3.4 million, have been as a result of donations.

If you would like to donate please call Terry Davis on 0411 499 978 or Jan Savage on 6362 7665.