GROSE Vale resident Don Ezzy has been raising money for disadvantaged kids for 25 years.
At the end of this month, he will once again take his 1964 Holden - which he has refurbished and converted for off-road use - on a ten-day trip through regional New South Wales, to help raise funds for Variety - the Children’s Charity.
“We see a lot of kids - that’s what it’s all about. It’s all about raising money for disadvantaged kids,” he told the Gazette.
Mr Ezzy will be setting-off from Berowra in his converted Holden on Sunday, August 21, along with 300 other participants in 105 wackily-decorated pre-1976 cars, for the annual Variety Brydens Lawyers B to B Bash.
Mr Ezzy is part of a six-car team called Team Toshiba, the members of which have raised around $100,000 over the past few years for Variety.
Mr Ezzy is a self-confessed “petrol head” who trained as a motor mechanic.
“I originally started taking part in the Variety Bash because of the driving aspect, but it was the comradery on the road and all the good we do for the kids when we visit schools every day that I also now really enjoy,” he said.
Affectionately called ‘Bashers’, the group will travel through Ellerston, Armidale, Bellata, Lightning Ridge, Bollon, Charleville, Blackall, Longreach, Muttaburra, Hughenden, Greenvale, Charters Towers, Scartwater, Bowen and Shute Harbour, before finishing-up at Hamilton Island on Tuesday, August 30.
A total of over 3,300km will be covered with an average of over 400km per day.
The group will visit 11 schools along the way, entertaining the kids and donating over $75,000 worth of educational, health and mobility equipment to the schools.
“We go to one or two schools every day and just about every morning we have breakfast at a particular school. The school raises money by putting on a breakfast, and every school gets a donation of equipment from Variety, whether it’s for exercise, shade, or safety,’ said Mr Ezzy.
“We stop at all sorts of schools from larger ones with a couple of hundred kids down to some very remote schools that have single-digit figures.
“The whole event nets close to $2 million each year.”
Each team must raise at least $8,500 to take part in the Bash. Mr Ezzy’s team raised their funds this year mainly through sponsorships, including one from The Australian Hotel and Brewery at Rouse Hill.
Variety is a not-for-profit organisation that works to empower Australian children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs to gain mobility, independence and self-esteem.
The charity provides practical equipment, programs and experiences.
Help support Team Toshiba by visiting www.varietybashnsw.com.au/find-a-car/ and searching for Don Ezzy.
