Community & Business
23 July, 2021
Rallying for a good cause
Greenmount man Jason Dekok is participating in this year’s Kidney Kar Rally, a 6-day challenge over the back roads of New South Wales that raises money to support kids and youth living with kidney disease.
Beginning on Saturday 23 October, the six-day route will start in Mudgee and then drive through Meadow Flat, Lithgow, Oberon, Cowra, Adavale Lane, West Wyalong, Hay, Finley and Narrandera, before finishing in Young on 29 October.
The rally is not a race but a test of skills with drivers having to navigate the off-road terrain.
However, the course is designed to allow the novice and the experienced to participate on a level playing field.
The Rally raises funds for Kidney Health Australia’s annual Kidney Kids Camp and youth programs.
Mr Dekok, who has lived in Greenmount for about six years, said he found out about the Kidney Kar Rally through a family connection.
“My brother-in-law to be had been in the rally before,” Mr Dekok said.
“He asked me to build the car for him this time.”
Mr Dekok said he got to work getting his 2003 Ford Falcon XR8 V8 race-ready by putting in a new gearbox, installing a roll cage and raising the car suspension up.
The car represents ‘The Frequency of Love’ team, named because the car will be vibrating at 528 Hz, the frequency of love.
The team has already raised its goal of $10,000 through the donations of seven supporters.
Mr Dekok said it was a good thing to be able to supporta good cause and he was looking forward to the experience.
The race was initially scheduled to take place from August 14 to August 21, however due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in New South Wales, where the race is taking place, and in Victoria where many participants are from, it was postponed.
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,” Mr Holdsworth said.
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 $15 million 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 per cent 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 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 1.5 million 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.
So far, $272,248 has been raised by 53 fundraisers with a total of over 658 donations.
There is a goal of raising over $500,000 in total from donations.
For more information or to donate, visit here.
OTHER CAPTION:
The 2003 Ford Falcon XR8 V8 that will be raced by ‘The Frequency of Love’ team.
