A pair of fathers who have raised more than $43,000 for children’s health projects in regional Australia are bringing their fundraising efforts to the state’s west.
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Dubbo’s David Ward and Quirindi’s Derek Blomfield – Team Two Dads – have twice taken part in the KidzFix Foundation’s annual week-long, off-road car rally, raising money for specialist paediatric equipment in Nowra and regional Victoria.
Now a director of the KidzFix Foundation, Mr Ward was thrilled to announce the 2017 rally would finish in Dubbo and fund equipment for Dubbo Hospital and Western Area Health.
“It’s pretty special to be part of a rally where you’re helping kids in any district, let alone in your own backyard – particularly in my circumstances,” Mr Ward said.
Mr Ward’s son Lucas was born at just 28 weeks gestation and survived thanks to the Newborn and Paediatric Transfer Service (NETS).
“To know that we’re getting good equipment and good staff and good services in Dubbo just makes Dubbo so much stronger as a regional community,” he said.
The 2017 Kidzfix Rally will start at Ballina on Friday, September 8 and travel west to Tenterfield, Goondiwindi and St George in Queensland before turning south towards Lightning Ridge. There, rally teams will enjoy a rest day before heading to Nyngan.
From Nyngan the teams will travel to an “overnight mystery location”, before the adventure concludes at Dubbo on Saturday, September 16.
Along the way teams will pay for food, fuel and accommodation as well as any mechanical repairs that are required, injecting additional income into each town.
The funds raised will go towards purchasing neo puffs (a neonatal resuscitation device) and vein view (equipment reducing the stress of trying to find a child’s veins). A paediatric isolette (portable intensive care unit allowing paediatric patients to leave hospital for tests) will also be purchased if enough is raised.
Mr Ward said it would be great for the businesses that have supported Team Two Dads in the past to see their “well-spent dollars coming back to their local communities”.
“That money in the last two years hasn’t come directly to our community but this year that’ll pay off for those companies and individuals that have been so generous to us,” he said.
To get involved in this year’s Kidzfix Rally, either as a sponsor or a participant, visit www.kidzfix.com.au/ or www.facebook.com/twodadskidzfixrally/
“You meet some pretty special people along the way that have been affected by having sick kids … or just like their cars and a good rally and seeing regional Australia in it’s true form … and having a whole heap of fun.”
