Kidzfix Foundation Rally 2018: Hawkesbury Jaffas team fundraiser at Richmond Golf Club

The couple need to raise $4500 to participate in the rally - which will see around 20 cars drive on 80 per cent dirt roads from Broken Hill to Mildura via Flinders Ranges over the week of September 7 to 15 - and are hoping to raise twice this amount all up.

“This will be our fourth rally and with the help of many local Hawkesbury businesses we aim to make 2018 our most successful fundraising year. We hold a number of functions to raise our entry with our biggie being a Blues Brothers Rebooted show on May 19 at the Richmond Golf Club,” Greg said.

Tickets are $50 for the event, and the ticket price covers a two-hour show from the Blues Brothers tribute act, along with finger foods. Punters are invited to arrive at the club from 7pm, food will begin at 7.30pm, and the show will start at 8pm.

There will also be a range of auctions and raffles throughout the evening, to raise more money for the cause.

“The Blues Brothers Rebooted guys do a good show. They’ve played at Windsor RSL a few times, and they’re probably the best Blues Brothers tribute band in Australia,” Greg said.

Greg and Rosalind’s team is called Hawkesbury Jaffas after their previous rally car, an orange Ford Escort. Last year they upgraded to a green 1997 Falcon, which they have dubbed the Maltese Falcon in a nod to Rosalind’s family heritage.

For last year’s rally, the Jaffas raised around $7000, and the rally all up raised $130,000 for sick kids around the country - much of which was donated to regional hospitals around western NSW.

The Jaffas hope this year they’ll be able to make a donation to Hawkesbury Hospital. “We’re trying to put something back into our community,” said Greg.

Kidzfix is a registered charity that focuses on supporting sick and disadvantaged Aussie kids through helping smaller organisations and communities where they can have the biggest impact.

“My wife and I have been fundraising for Camp Quality and other charities for 25 years and never wanted to get involved until we met the people from Kidzfix,” said Greg.

“They are pretty fair dinkum with what they’re doing, so we built a car and this is our fourth year. It’s a charity that you can see where all the money goes to. It’s pretty transparent.”

During last year’s rally from Ballina to Dubbo via Lightning Ridge, entrants stopped off on the way at a number of schools and hospitals, where they donated goods.

“One school in regional Queensland had six pupils and we gave them books because they had read every book in the library. We also gave them sporting equipment,” Greg said.

“It’s a great week away. You see some interesting places, places you’d never see otherwise. The people are like a family to you when you get together, all with the goal to help raise money for sick kids.”

To purchase tickets for the Blues Brothers Rebooted show at Richmond Golf Club on May 19, or to donate vouchers or goods for the auction or raffle, contact Greg on 0419 446 625 or email hawkesburyjaffas27@gmail.com. Follow the team’s progress on the Hawkesbury Jaffas page on Facebook.