Michael Cole and Leah Flowers are set to tackle the roughest dirt roads between Canberra and Townsville as they take part in this year’s 3,600 kilometre Shitbox Rally in their 1980 Rover SD1.
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The Fishermans Paradise couple has already raised more than $4400 for the Cancer Council in the lead up to the rally which will take them along the Birdsville Track and through the Simpson Desert, with plenty of stops at some of Australia’s most iconic pubs along the way.
The Day Late Dollar Short team is taking part in the rally for the fourth consecutive year and Leah said they were hitting the road in honour of three friends, Joanne Grasso, John Manning and Tereze Downs, who have lost their battles with cancer in the past six months.
Their friends will be in the couple’s thoughts as they tackle some of the country’s most arduous roads in the name of charity
The pair is looking forward to meeting up with teams that have taken part in the rally previously and, a mechanic, Michael is expecting to spend plenty of time repairing the broken down $1000 vehicle owned by other teams.
His assistance and mechanical knowledge last year won the team the Spirit of the Rally Award at the conclusion of the Perth to Darwin event .
Joining the Day Late Dollar Short team will be the Bannisters Tasty Fish team who will tackle the dirt in a Ford Fairlane Limousine and the B Team.
Teams will leave Canberra on Saturday May 9 and arrive in Townsville on May 15.
Leah said rally participants had already raised over one million dollars.
“We would really like to see it hit at least $1.2 million,” she added.
The team has had outstanding support for the rally from local businesses.
A documentary on the rally will air on National Geo People on May 9.
Anyone wishing to sponsor the team can log on to: https://shitboxrally2015.everydayhero.com/au/day-late-dollar-short
Read about last year's event: