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Kids on outback car adventure leave Dubbo on Saturday 26th September raising critical funds for Cancer Research

Lunchbox Rally - Box Rallies

Key Facts:

• Lunchbox Rally will take place from 26–29 September, with 220 participants in adult-and-child teams of two embarking on a round trip starting and finishing in Dubbo, NSW via Lightning Ridge, Eulo and Louth
• Driving cars worth $1,500 or less with no 4WD or AWD permitted.
• Teams must raise a minimum of $3,000 each to participate, with participants having already collectively raised over $515,000 for Cancer Council, which is Box Rallies' charity partner.
• Box Rallies is Cancer Council's largest partner, having raised over $69 million for cancer research nationally, funding 86 research projects to date.
• Lunchbox Rally is part of Box Rallies
• Box Rallies was founded by James Freeman OAM, who lost both parents to cancer within 12 months. Luncbox Rally was created to build the next generation of fundraisers whilst allowing families to explore outback Australia together.

Lunchbox Rally will be held from Saturday 26th  September to Tuesday 29^th September, seeing 220 participants from all over Australia, in teams of two (one adult and one child) taking a round-trip adventure starting and finishing in Dubbo, NSW. 

This is an amazing and unique opportunity for kids (and adults) to explore outback Australia in a safe, friendly and community environment, all in the name of charity! Cars must be worth $1,500 or less, roadworthy and registered with no 4WD or AWD allowed. This all adds to the spirit of adventure, and as breakdowns are often guaranteed, it challenges teams to work together to make the finish line. 

Under the Box Rallies umbrella (Shitbox Rally and Mystery Box Rally), Lunchbox Rally is formatted the same as the famous Shitbox Rally with a few kid friendly differences and takes inspiration from Mystery Box Rally with the route starting and finishing at the same location.

Teams need to raise a minimum of $3,000 each to participate, as this rally is for those who want to raise much needed money for charity and by partaking in Lunchbox Rally, teams are building the future generation of fundraisers to join the rally family. Teams have already raised over $515,000.

Dress up themes provide amusement and the reward of making camp each night is an evening spent under the stars in rural and remote locations. Each evening will feature kid friendly entertainment to provide the laughter amongst the challenge of the Rally.

James Freeman OAM, who founded Box Rallies (Shitbox Rally, Mystery Box Rally and Lunchbox Rally) after losing both of his parents to cancer within 12 months of each other said: 

“Lunchbox Rally is not a race, but a reward for fundraising efforts and a chance to explore Australia. It has fast become a favourite rally, so we are very excited to have teams come back again and for new teams to join in on the fun. There are so many aspects of this rally that are wholesome and rewarding for the kids (and the adults).

Often fundraising and rallying for family members or friends affected by Cancer, this common experience unites each rally team to become a part of the larger Box Rallies family.”

There is 1 local Dubbo team, 2 from Orange and 1 from Gunnedah available for Interview plus, James Freeman, Founder and CEO of Box Rallies. 15 teams are from QLD.

2026 OVERNIGHT STOP OVERS 

AND DATES:

Saturday 26th Sept – Lightning Ridge, NSW
Sunday 27th Sept – Eulo, QLD
Monday 28th Sept – Louth, NSW

 

KEY INFORMATION:

Saturday 26th September – START LINE DUBBO from 8am

Ollie Robbins Oval 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bv2eW9VWt/

 

Tuesday 29^th September – FINISH LINE DUBBO from approximately 2pm 

Ollie Robbins Oval 

https://www.facebook.com/share/19VxkR1cCa/

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

WEBSITE: lunchboxrally.com.au

RALLY TEAMS: lunchboxrally.com.au/teams

Follow us on socials

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/lunchboxrally

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/lunchboxrally

IMAGES FROM PREVIOUS RALLY’S: https://boxrallies.smugmug.com/Lunch-Box-Rally

GET INVOLVED

To find out about future rallies, add your name to our Database here: https://events.boxrallies.com/addyourdetails

 

 

Box Rallies is the leading individual fundraiser for Cancer Council nationally generating over $69 million to Cancer research, making them Cancer Council's largest partner.  This helps the lives of millions of Australians who are facing their unknown journeys. The need for research is more important than ever, every dollar raised through the Rally helps support research that can improve prevention, treatment and quality of life, giving more Australians the opportunity to live well beyond a cancer diagnosis. Since partnering with Cancer Council, Box Rallies has helped fund 86 research projects spanning multiple cancer types, including groundbreaking work into early detection, treatment resistance and immunotherapy. The www.boxrallies.com website shows the commitment Box Rallies has made partnering with Cancer Council to believe in, and strive for, a cancer free future. 

Box Rallies is funding 2 Children's Cancer Research projects running from 2026 until 2029. 

Across Australia, it is estimated that 776 children aged 0-14 years will be diagnosed with cancer this year, with around 88 deaths expected.

 

• Every week, around 15 Australian children will be diagnosed with cancer
• Every week, around 2 Australian children will die from cancer
• In Australia, the 5-year survival rate for childhood cancer is now over

 

Professor Maria Kavallaris; 2026 to 2029

Precision Immune-Targeted Gene Silencing to Combat Neuroblastoma Dependency 

Professor Maria Kavallaris and team aim to develop a precision treatment approach for children with high-risk neuroblastoma. Researchers will identify genes that neuroblastoma cells depend on to grow and survive and design therapies that switch off these genes using gene silencing technology. These treatments will be delivered directly to cancer cells using targeted lipid nanoparticles, helping to avoid damage to healthy cells. 

 

A/Prof Charles de Bock; 2026 to 2029

Evaluating new immunotherapies targeting the FAT1 cadherin in high-risk leukaemia 

A/Prof Charles de Bock and his team are developing new immune-based treatments that help the body’s own immune system find and destroy leukaemia cells. Researchers have identified a protein called FAT1 that appears on the surface of many leukaemia cells but is mostly absent from healthy blood cells. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About us:

Box Rallies (Shitbox Rally, Mystery Box Rally and Lunchbox Rally) is the leading individual fundraiser for Cancer Council nationally generating over $69 million to Cancer research, making them Cancer Council's largest partner. This helps the lives of millions of Australians who are facing their unknown journeys. The need for research is more important than ever, every dollar raised through the Rally's helps support research that can improve prevention, treatment and quality of life, giving more Australians the opportunity to live well beyond a cancer diagnosis. Since partnering with Cancer Council, Box Rallies has helped fund 86 research projects spanning multiple cancer types, including groundbreaking work into early detection, treatment resistance and immunotherapy. The www.boxrallies.com website shows the commitment Box Rallies has made partnering with Cancer Council to believe in, and strive for, a cancer free future. 

Contact details:

For Media enquiries for Box Rallies, please contact Katherine Ferris on 0429 050 119 or email: [email protected]

 For Cancer Council enquiries, please contact Deanna Papanagiotou on 02 9308 0226 or email: [email protected]

For cancer information and support, call Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 Information and Support Line