Hi, we're "A Hippie & A Cowboy" (Sonja & Chris), and we're excited to be taking part in Shitbox Rally 2027 - Autumn!
In April 2027 we'll be setting off on an unforgettable 7-day adventure from Port Augusta to Townsville in our trusty old rally car... a rusty Holden HT ute that we rescued from a paddock years ago! It might not be the fastest, prettiest or most reliable vehicle on the road, but with a bit of love (and hopefully not too many roadside repairs!) it'll be taking us on the adventure of a lifetime.
While the rally promises plenty of laughs, challenges and unforgettable memories, the real reason we're doing it is to help make a difference in the fight against cancer.
This will be our fourth rally, our first Shitbox Rally was completed in memory of Sonja's best friend, who sadly lost her battle with cancer at just 43 years of age. She and Sonja had been best friends since they were six years old. Like so many families, cancer has touched our lives, and that's why this cause means so much to us.
Every Shitbox Rally team is required to raise a minimum of **$5,000**, with every dollar going directly to Cancer Council to help fund life-saving cancer research. We've decided to set ourselves an even bigger challenge and are aiming to raise $8,000 before we hit the start line.
Over the coming months we'll be hosting fundraisers, raffles, events and a few fun "Hippie vs Cowboy" challenges, so we hope you'll enjoy following our journey and getting involved along the way.
Whether you can spare $5 or $500, every donation brings us one step closer to our goal and, more importantly, helps Cancer Council continue the incredible work they do.
Thank you for supporting our crazy adventure—we truly appreciate every bit of encouragement and generosity.
🌻🤠 Sonja & Chris
A Hippie & A Cowboy
A Hippie & A Cowboy are driving a $1,500 car from Port Augusta to Townsville 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.
.jpg)
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.
.png)
Harnessing epigenetics for early detection of residual and recurrent breast cancer through advanced liquid biopsy testing.
.png)
A new targeted therapy for resistant HER2-positive breast cancers.
