Although the trucks are a great standout at the i98FM Illawarra Convoy, there’s a much deeper meaning to the day.
“We want to support our community, especially those that are sick with cancer,” convoy manager Bill White says.
“Cancer and other diseases are so random, and they can impact everyone, kids, parents, families. Some little ones never get to leave the hospital, so we want our support to be direct.”
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All money raised from the i98FM Illawarra Convoy goes directly to the Illawarra Community Foundation.
The Foundation provides critical assistance to families battling life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses.
So far, the foundation has supported over 1,000 families with 100 per cent of the funds remaining in the Illawarra and South Coast community, raising a staggering $30,006,878 over its 21-year history.
This year alone, the convoy raised an impressive total of $2,313,243.
“It’s nice for us to be able to give some support and take a bit of weight off these people who may have been dealing with these hardships for years. There’s no silver bullet for them,” Bill says.
The convoy’s money doesn’t just go to families navigating the cruel randomness of illness. It goes to local charities, cancer carers and even buses to transport patients.
It goes into equipment, pays medical bills, and buys fuel vouchers up to $10,000 for parents who spend their days driving between Illawarra and Sydney, so that their children can access the treatment that doesn’t exist closer to home.
“I guess that’s where we come in and take a little bit of the sting out of that financial challenge they’re facing and provide direct financial support,” Bill says.
“These days, if you’ve got a mortgage, you really need both parents working. When a little one gets sick, there’s no local treatment in Illawarra for kids’ cancer, so they’ll have to travel.
“The burden that can place on a family who are doing these trips for six to 12 months, or even two years, while that child or parent is going through treatment, and the other parent is trying to work to pay the bills, is really hard.”
So, as this convoy holds great importance to the Illawarra community, they take their fundraising very seriously.
Before the convoy even began, the highly anticipated Lead Bike and Truck auction generated a massive $1.3 million and Ross Transport, (supported by Amarli’s Army) contributed an incredible $305,000 for Lead Truck, with a whopping 817 trucks participating in the Convoy all up.
There were semi-trailers, old prime movers and vintage rigs. But Bill was careful not to play favourites.
“Most of these drivers have been touched by cancer, so they usually have a tribute on their trucks,” he says.
“We provide them custom truck banners with ‘in memory of’ or just a name. It’s quite an emotional day for all those involved.
“We get to form strong bonds with a lot of these people we support, as we get to know them better year after year.”
The Family Fun Day saw over 12,000 people walk through the gates of Shellharbour Airport where they were entertained with performances from The Screaming Jets and AC/DC support act, the Large Mirage, along with other Illawarra bands.
Kye’s FMX Motorcross Jam entertained crowds along with kids rides, Santa photos as well as an array of food and market stalls.
But the most heartfelt moment of all, went to honouring Anne Tanks, who initially started the convoy with Marty Haynes back in 2005.
Bagpipes honed the tune of Amazing Grace as it led the bikes out of the staging area.
“It was dead silent. All you could hear was this beautiful bagpipe ringing out to lead the bikes up to the start point of the convoy,” Bill says.
As the only employee for the event, this job means more than just work to Bill.
“I feel really privileged to be doing this. To go out, deliver the event, raise the money and then to administer that to the families we support is a big responsibility,” he says.
“You quickly realise that every cent can make a difference to these people. The challenge now is to continue to maintain this high level of support moving forward.”
Even now, when the economy stings, people keep giving. You see it in the people that show up, you see it in the volunteers, and you even see it in the truck drivers who have quietly donated more than expected without ever asking for their names to be spoken.
“It doesn’t matter how tough of a financial climate we’re living in; people continue to give because they see the benefit,” Bill says.
“A lot of people say this convoy is their Christmas, which is really nice. We’re a small, tight knit community, but I think this convoy has created a community within a community that creates an opportunity for people to help others less fortunate.”
And for the future? Well, the Illawarra Convoy isn’t stopping anytime soon, year after year, they plan to come back and help even more deserving families and organisations in the community.
So come along next year and be part of the help.
Read more:
- A son’s final promise
- Illawarra Convoy delivers an emotional return
- Lightening that mental load
- Record breaking Mullumbimby
- Looking for a home away from home?
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