Shitbox convoy heading through Echuca

The journey will start on the morning of Saturday, June 15, when the teams leave Melbourne early and pass through Heathcote, Rochester and Echuca on their way to the outback.

They will drive on the Northern Hwy through Rochester and Echuca before changing to the Cobb Hwy through Moama.

The event is run by Box Rallies, a non-profit organisation established in 2010 to raise money for cancer research.

Participants were required to raise $5000 before the rally to participate.

Fundraising and relationships manager for Box Rallies Lauren Karas highlighted the rally’s importance to the participants and the exciting route they will take this year.

“Shitbox Rally isn’t a race; it’s a reward for the fundraising efforts that the participants have accomplished over the year,” she said.

“I think it’s important to reward their hard work; it’s a very selfless thing to raise funds and help other people, so it’s a great thing for people to do.

“Everyone will love it; the route we are taking this year is exciting and diverse. There’s a good mixture of sealed and unsealed roads, and many of the places we go to, the participants have never been to or wouldn’t get to experience something like that.”

Ms Karas also discussed how the rally is a personal experience for many of the participants as most of them have dealt with cancer intimately during their lives.

“A lot of the people raising funds and participating have either lost someone to cancer. There is someone that they are honouring or are a cancer survivor themselves, so it is a very healing and supportive environment,” she said.

“It’s not just about going on a wild adventure in the outback and doing some crazy things; for the most part, it is a personal experience for our participants.

“Almost all participants have a story and a reason for why they are there.”

To support the rally and participants, you can donate at Team Box Rallies (shitboxrally.com.au).