The countdown has started for Saturday, 14 August when 52 rally cars will begin a fun but gruelling 6-day challenge over the back roads of NSW from Mudgee to Young, all to raise vital funds to help kids and youth living with kidney disease.

Kidney Health Australia Chief Executive Officer, Chris Forbes, said it was great to have the Rally back on the road.

“With the pandemic halting much of our community fundraising activity last year, it’s great to have the Kidney Kar Rally back raising vital funds to help children and young people deal with the physical, emotional and psychological impacts of this life changing disease”. Mr Forbes said.

Supercar driver Lee Holdsworth is thrilled to be supporting the Rally this year and helping such a worthy cause.

“It’s exciting to be involved in the Kidney Kar Rally for 2021, it will be good fun being on the dirt tracks in outback Australia with some fellow car enthusiasts all while supporting a great cause! The Rally will raise much needed funds for kids and youth living with kidney disease, and I’m honoured to be a part of the event” says Lee.

Kidney Health Australia’s Kidney Kar Rally’s six-day route will start in Mudgee, the ‘nest in the hills’ and then venture across it’s beautiful countryside, driving through Meadow Flat, Lithgow, Oberon, Cowra, Adavale Lane, West Wyalong, Hay, Finley, Narrandera, before finishing in Young on Thursday 19th August.  

Locals will get the chance to see the cars up close as they pass through the towns and the local communities are urged to get behind the Rally and help fundraising efforts.

This year’s fundraising goal is an astonishing $500,000 and the Event Director John Paine is confident they will raise this, given the passion and dedication of the rally participants and their supporters.

“It’s fantastic to see how passionate our fundraisers are, they have already raised an incredible $280,000. I have no doubt we will reach our goal by the end of the rally, all of which helps to change the lives of children and youth impacted by kidney disease” says Mr Paine.

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The rally is not a race but a test of skills with drivers having to navigate the off-road terrain. However, the track is designed to allow the novice and the experienced to participate on a level playing field.  

Whilst there’s camaraderie between participants, the rally is competitive and organised by individuals who have rallied competitively for most of their lives.

Mr Forbes said Kidney Health Australia was continually grateful for the ongoing support of the rally participants and organisers, who have raised over $15m in total for Kidney Health Australia’s annual Kidney Kids Camp and youth programs.

“Many children living with kidney disease lead isolated lives because of their condition and treatment. Our kid’s camp and youth programs have been designed to help young people make friendships with others in their situation and build confidence and self-esteem through   peer-networking and development activities,” Mr Forbes said.

“Alarmingly, over 30% of youth living with kidney disease lose their kidney transplant within three years of transitioning to adult care, so funding is vital to develop more programs of support so we can reduce this occurrence.” Mr Forbes said.

Mr Forbes said the Rally was also a great opportunity to connect with local communities and provide more education around the importance of early detection of kidney disease.

“About 63 people die with kidney related diseases every day, and currently 1.5M Australians are unaware they have early signs of the disease, so, the rally is also a great platform to connect with and educate local communities about kidney disease and the importance of prevention, early detection and support,” Mr Forbes said.

Kidney Health Australia is sincerely grateful to individuals and organisations in the community and the event’s sponsor Biante Model Cars.

For more details about the Kidney Kar Rally or to donate to the teams taking part or the individual towns fundraising pages visit www.kidneykarrally.org.au

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