The Box Hill resident will join 55 other vehicles leaving from Sydney on a whirlwind eight day driving adventure all in the name of raising money for chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Mr Sheridan drove in his first fundraising rally in 1996 and was immediately hooked, participating in different rallies up until 2001, when he drove in his first Kidney Kar event.

“During my seven years with the Kidney Kar Rally I’ve visited every state except Western Australia,” he said. “It’s a great way to see parts of the country and visit towns you wouldn’t normally see.”

Mr Sheridan and his driving partner, son Matthew, will travel around 800km a day, heading south from Sydney to Narooma, Bairnsdale and Bendigo (on the Victorian border), before heading north to Mildura, Finley, Forbes and finishing in Mudgee on August 23.

Together the duo raised $4500 through a major fundraising golf day held in late June at Windsor Golf Club (the minimum fundraising amount to enter the rally is $4000).

Also on board to help fundraising is the Vineyard Hotel and its eatery Billy’s Bistro, which have rallied behind Mr Sheridan as his major sponsors, as well as Friends Constructions, Reactive Upholstery, RA Beavis Transport, McGraths Hill Florist and Oberon Quarries.

“We’re really looking forward to this year’s rally,” Mr Sheridan said. “My Hilux ute is ready to go.”

In the past 19 years the Kidney Kar Rally has raised more than $1.7 million to assist kidney patients and assist sponsoring vital Kidney Camps for children.

Kidney Health Australia CEO, Anne Wilson, said the Kidney Kar Rally helps raise urgently needed funds for CKD, spreads the word on kidney health and the steps to prevent the disease which threatens one in every three Australians.

“The event is a credit to the many support staff, organisations, sponsors and families who support the teams both on the road and with fundraising,” she said.

“It is one of the most significant events on the Kidney Health Australia calendar.”