After an eight-month fight, we lost Karen – my wife and Mark’s sister – to cancer in 2022.
Karen was a passionate traveller, adventurer and educator. Her mantra, Family, Adventure, Life, is with us every day. We know she would love that Mark and I are taking on the 2026 Winter Shitbox Rally together in her memory.
We’ll be hitting the road in our $1,500-or-less Shitbox, driving from Mildura to Townsville on an unforgettable seven-day adventure. It’s not just about the drive – it’s about helping make a difference in the fight against cancer.
To take part, we need to raise at least $5,000 – and of course, the more we can raise, the better. Every cent goes directly to the Cancer Council.
Your support, no matter the size, will truly make an impact.
If you’re able to sponsor our car with $300 or more, we’ll proudly display your logo on our Shitbox as we take on this journey.
Thank you for helping us honour Karen’s spirit of adventure and keep her memory alive.
With gratitude,
Mark and Rico
Bass Straight Bandits are fundraising for Cancer Council
They're doing what!?
Shitbox Rally is a 7-day challenge like no other. Participants drive cars worth no more than $1,500 through some of Australia's most stunning (and often rugged) landscapes, all in support of cancer research. It's not a race — it's a challenge and more importantly, a celebration of the power of community.
Yes, the cars break down, and yes, there are plenty of unexpected twists along the way, but that's all part of the fun.
The rally is designed to be a colourful and unpredictable experience, where teams travel in small groups, helping each other along the way.
And when the day's drive ends, we gather around the campfire, share stories, and reflect on the day's achievements.
This event brings together people who have been impacted by cancer in different ways — whether it's through their own battles or through loved ones. Together we'll make memories that last a lifetime while supporting the fight against cancer.
Donate NowEvery rally. Every dollar.
Directly to Cancer Council.
Box Rallies is the largest funder of cancer research in Australia — outside of the government. Every dollar supports Cancer Council.
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Leading development of a novel epigenetic test to more accurately determine tumour risk — particularly for tumours misclassified by current clinical tools.
Developed innovative x-ray hardware under $0.5M that produces MRI-quality images and captures 3D scans during live treatment delivery.
Targeting pancreatic cancer via anti-fibrotic NID2 therapy combined with Gemcitabine/Abraxane chemotherapy to stratify and improve treatment outcomes.
Exploring genomics to identify high-risk patients earlier and guide development of new therapeutic strategies — improving survival chances.
Advanced pre-clinical evaluation of sphingosine kinase 1-targeting agents as a therapy for acute myeloid leukaemia.
Advancing CAR-T cell therapy for extracranial solid paediatric cancers.
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Harnessing epigenetics for early detection of residual and recurrent breast cancer through advanced liquid biopsy testing.
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A new targeted therapy for resistant HER2-positive breast cancers.
