With 268 trucks and a record-breaking 108 motorbikes, the ninth annual Convoy for The Cure drew plenty of attention as it rolled down Webb Drive in Townsville before hitting Duckworth St, Dalrymple Rd, Thuringowa Drive and Riverway Drive on the way to Ross Dam Park.
With expectations of possibly hitting $100,000 in fundraising, the team at Convoy for The Cure were shocked to see a whopping $150,000 raised.
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Organiser Todd Martin says they couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome.
“We never have a budget or a set number we really want to hit,” Martin says.
“Our main goal is always just to do as much for the charity as we can.”
The convoy raises money for funding research into DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma), an aggressive type of cancer that forms in the brainstem.
Extremely rare, the cancer almost always occurs in young children.
“Thankfully because of the generosity of others, and a few usual suspects, we were able to raise such a massive amount.”
Raising almost $30,000 on their own was Northern Stevedoring Services (NSS).
The business donated $20,000 earlier in the year to kick off fundraising and added to the pot as the convoy grew closer.
The amazing fundraising effort saw NSS’s 2021 Mercedes-Benz Actros lead the convoy, carrying the event banners with pride.
Alex Landel and his flashy motorbike also pulled through, raising $12-13,000 and earning himself the first ever ‘Golden Helmet’ award.
“It was great to see so many bikers get involved, this was a record-breaking year for us,” Martin says.
Martin says another man who deserves a shoutout is Rod Poole from Predator Signs, who generously donated his time and supplies to provide all the signage for the event.
“He specifically doesn’t stick around until the end so he can avoid getting a trophy from us, but best believe I will be bringing one around to him,” he says.
“He does so much for us every year.”
It wasn’t just the truckies and bikers showing support, with around 18-20,000 onlookers gathering on the side streets to witness 2.8km of trucks drive past.
“An unbelievable number of kids lined the streets, it was such a sight to see,” Martin says.
To get the youngsters involved, organisers even set up a mini convoy for the kids and their push bikes, with witches’ hat races and more.
Families brought out their blankets, chairs and morning tea, making a day of it.
“All of the kids were putting out their arms and gesturing for the truckies to pull the horn, and of course they all obliged.
“You could hear the horns from 2-3km away.”
The only dampener to the day was a few locals who complained online and to the police about the loud noise.
“It was funny, because most of the police were with us on the day, guiding us or joining in,” Martin laughs.
“One of the cops even answered a call on his bike.”
The success of this year’s event has motivated Martin even more, with the 2025 dates already set.
“The thing with these kinds of events is that it is a slow build,” he says. “You can’t do too much at the start and then it just goes ballistic as you grow closer.
“This is a love job for me, I love planning and organising it and just cannot wait until next year.”
The 10th anniversary of Convoy for The Cure will be held on May 25, 2025.
Martin says the Convoy is always held in May to coincide with brain cancer awareness month, and it also happens to be when his mate lost his daughter to the disease.
“She passed away in 2009 and that is what started this whole event. It’s like all the pieces of the jigsaw fell into place with the timing.
“We just can’t wait to keep doing what we are doing and making it better every year.”
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