On Saturday 17th August 2019 at 9am, almost 400 participants will start their car engines in Byron Bay with no idea where they are going. Driven by a desire to help find a cure for cancer, they are taking part in Mystery Box Rally - one of Australia’s largest independently run fundraisers for Cancer Council.
The annual Mystery Box Rally is not your average car rally. Teams of two must pack their belongings into a car, 25 years or older, and drive thousands of kilometres over five days with maps of that day’s destination only distributed each morning. The unique event challenges participants to experience a similar journey what cancer patients face – a journey into the unknown.
Dirt roads, dress ups and breakdowns are guaranteed, along with a sense of mystery and adventure, which encourages teams to work together.
What’s not a mystery are the epic fundraising efforts. This year’s fundraising goal is $1 million, with totals already reaching and incredible $830,000, with two weeks to go.
The rally is part of Box Rallies, which includes Shitbox Rally; devised in 2009 by James Freeman after both his parents died of cancer within 12 months of each other. Shitbox Rally is now the leading individual fundraiser for Cancer Council nationally. Box Rallies has generated over $20 million to Cancer research plus media awareness for Cancer Council – helping the lives of millions of Australians who are facing their unknown journeys.
Founder James Freeman says: “Mystery Box Rally is not a race, but a reward for fundraising efforts. All of our rallies are so much fun, but Mystery Box keeps delivering year after year with more and more people returning to participate. In 2019, teams will start and finish in the most Eastern Town in Australia, Byron Bay.
“The teams have done an incredible job by raising over $3.5 million since the rally started in 2013 and we are hoping that from this year onwards Mystery Box Rally will be raising $1 million annually.”