In a Vintage Toyota Cressida 1991 Grande known as Christopher, Arpad Romandy and Ben Matters have so far raised over $35,000 for Cancer Council Australia.
The two Hayman Island residents took off on Friday, October 14, for the Mackay to Darwin spring Shitbox Rally passing through iconic Queensland towns as part of the Cancer Council fundraising event.
Representing the Whitsundays as the “Hayman Island Team”, Arpad and Ben have been crossing the country alongside 225 others, each of them in cars worth no more than $1500.
They’re set to arrive in Darwin today to end their journey, riding high in their Toyota Cressida 1991 Grande which has been decked out in a Whitsundays themed paintjob to take a piece of the region with them, and painted by local artists.
Already, they’ve driven from Mackay to Charters Towers, on to Chillagoe, Normanton, Hell’s Gate Roadhouse, Borroloola, and Mataranka – their final stop before the Darwin finish and the end of what is a more than 3300-kilometre journey.
The annual Cancer Council event has a goal of raising $2 million amongst its combined teams, and Arpad and Ben are leading as the second highest fundraisers, with roughly $35,000 of their $50,000 goal.
Arpad, whose day job when he’s not rallying around the country is as General Manager at Hayman Island’s InterContinental Resort, said the trip had been an amazing experience.
“The locals in the outback are absolutely amazing at getting behind us and supporting us, but we support them as well,” Arpad said.
“The mechanics and the rest of the Shitbox team are amazing, too. The fundraising has been extremely meaningful. We already are wanting to do it again.”
The pair have spent much of the rally in “triage” where the vehicles are regularly fixed up by support cars and other racers – everyone pitches in.
Arpad said the seven-day rally was the “fun reward for raising vital funds for ground-breaking Cancer Research projects” and had a special place in his heart.
“We took part because cancer affects so many people so close to you. I lost my dad; I proudly dedicate this rally to him,” Arpad said.
You can donate to Arpad and Ben’s Shitbox Rally page here: https://spring2022.shitboxrally.com.au/hayman-islanders
Two Hayman Islanders, Arpad Romandy and Ben Matters, have taken their Vintage Toyota Cressida 1991 Grande on a trip around the country in this year’s Shitbox Rally
With plenty of help from locals, they got ‘Christopher’, their car, in working order and decked it out in a Whitsunday themed paintjob
The boys set off on their seven-day journey last Friday
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