Siobhan and Elise, best friends & team Thunderbox, are so proud to be a part of an organisation that brings Australians together from all walks of life with one very specific goal: raising funds for cancer research, specifically for NHMRC – the National Health and Medical Research Council.
In June 2027, we will be taking part in the Shitbox Rally – Winter – driving from Cairns to Darwin. This year will be Siobhan's 5th time driving in the name of kicking cancer's butt, and Elise's very first – welcome to the madness! The team originally started with Siobhan's dad and his best mate, Kelvin, and now it's their turn to carry on the tradition and make a difference.
As for our trusty steed – our beloved 2003 Toyota Avalon, Ava, made it to Darwin on the last rally but was sold right there on the spot, retiring in style in the Top End! So we are currently on the hunt for new wheels… watch this space. Will our next car have what it takes to survive the roads ahead? Only time will tell. 😉
Shitbox Rally is the largest community-led fundraiser for Cancer Council in Australia and is now in its 16th year. Our fundraising contributes to ground-breaking research projects that miss out on funding from government. We help keep some of the most cutting-edge ideas alive in our labs, to help so many families later, and it's something that we are incredibly honoured to be a part of. The research done by this organisation has helped Siobhan's family directly, with the top three focus areas last year being leukaemia & lymphoma, colorectal and pancreatic studies.
All of this hard work and fundraising is done in the name of Shitbox Rallies where we partake in an offroad drive over 7 days, in burnt out, good for nothing, 2WDs valued at less than $1,500. We paint them up in ludicrous designs and camp where sometimes there isn't even a town for us to pull into, but always a fuel bowser and a pub! We travel on some of Australia's most formidable roads as a convoy of 250 cars, helping each other along when the inevitable happens… someone breaks down. Fortunately, someone has always got a footy ball or a cricket bat for the rest of us to pass the time whilst we try and fix the damage. The distance covered each day is dependent on the condition of the roads – bitumen, sand, gravel – but ranges between 350 to 600 km each day. You can only imagine the length of the fuel line if you arrive at camp last and there's only one bowser… we do this for 7 days.
Part of the participation is that all teams have to raise a minimum of $5,000, but most teams raise well above this amount, as you can see with the Winter 2025 rally target set at $2,000,000 plus. Shitbox Rally as a whole has donated over $49 million to Cancer Council since it started.
We have social media so if you'd like to follow along on the antics of the rally in June, drop us a follow.Instagram & Facebook: Linktr.ee/teamthunderboxrally
Thunderbox are driving a $1,500 car from Cairns to Darwin to raise money 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.
