Kidney Health Australia’s Kidney Kar Rally begins today (10 August) in Cairns and continues for the next 10 days with cars finishing in Dubbo on 20 August.
This month’s event is the 33 rally and features a field of 40 rally cars, driven and designed by supporters of Kidney Health Australia who will travel a total of 5,040km to raise funds and awareness for Kidney Health Australia’s Kids and Youth Programs.
These programs help children and young people deal with the physical, emotional and psychological impacts of kidney disease.
The importance of helping kidney disease sufferers is highlighted by the statistics that show:
- Every day, an average of 63 people in Australia die with kidney-related disease – more than breast cancer, prostate cancer and road accidents.
- People on dialysis spend on average 60 hours a month strapped to a machine to stay alive.
- 1.7 million adults living in Australia are affected by kidney disease.
- 90 per cent of kidney function can be lost without any symptoms - it is a silent killer.
- 1 in 3 Australian adults are at increased risk of kidney disease.
- 1.5 million people don’t know they are living with early signs of kidney disease.
Over three decades, the Kidney Kar Rally has raised more than $15 million for Kids and Youth Programs, and the target this year is to lift that tally by another $400,000.
Kidney Health Australia CEO, Chris Forbes, said everyone involved in the event was looking forward to its return after a two-year hiatus.
“We are thrilled to see the resumption of the Kidney Kar Rally. It is such a special event, and we can’t wait to get out on the road and travel through Queensland and northern New South Wales, connecting with local towns and wider communities to raise funds for kids and young people with kidney disease,” Mr Forbes said.
“Kids with kidney disease face enormous challenges in dealing with the physical impact of treatment, as well as the emotional toll of coping with a lifelong chronic disease. Childhood and adolescence are challenging enough without the burden of kidney disease. Tragically, it’s why one-third of young people lose their kidney transplant within three years of leaving paediatric renal care – and why we’re determined to do more to support them through these important developmental years.”
This year the Big Red Kidney Bus will accompany part of the rally, stopping in Cairns, Townsville, Gold Coast and Dubbo to perform free health checks, promoting a key objective of Kidney Health Australia: to raise awareness of kidney disease, the link between Diabetes and Heart Disease with Kidney disease, and the importance of early detection.
Rally route across Queensland and northern NSW
| 10 August | Cairns - Registration Day |
|---|---|
| 11 August | Rally sets off from Cairns |
| 11 August |
Townsville Free Health Checks at Strand Park, Townsville |
| 12 August | Emerald |
| 13 August | Chinchilla |
| 14 August |
Gold Coast Free Health Checks and Kids & Youth Day at Sea World |
| 15 August | Gold Coast (lay day) |
| 16 August | Tenterfield (NSW) |
| 17 August | Walgett |
| 18 August | Bourke |
| 19 August | Coonabarabran |
| 20 August |
Dubbo - Finish Free Health Checks at Ollie Robins Oval, Dubbo |
