Dads with Daughters

We’re Ben and Dave, two middle-aged dads hardened by life in the soft underbelly of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, where adversity usually means the café’s run out of oat milk. Naturally, we’ve entered Shitbox Rally 2027 Autumn: seven days driving from Port Augusta to Townsville in a car worth $1,500 or less. Neither of us brings much mechanical expertise. We’ve decided not to let that trouble us until it troubles us.

We’re also proud girl dads, with four daughters between us and want show them that adventures can involve more than a return flight to Europe or venturing west of Anzac Parade. We also think Dads need quality time with their mates, a challenge and something worth doing beyond the daily routine. Ideally, our girls will see friendship, purpose and a willingness to have a go. Their Mums will see two men who bought a car without checking whether it works.

For both our families, the cause is personal.

In April 2020 Dave’s mum, and his daughters’ grandma, died of bowel cancer at the age of 69 after a fearless year-long battle including detection, diagnosis, chemotherapy and other treatments, and patient and family support. Dave’s grandma was a stomach cancer survivor, while his uncle also passed away earlier this year from bowel cancer.Despite fantastic progress, cancer of all types is still far too common, taking many lives and the joy and opportunities that come with them. Dave’s oldest daughter was four years old when “Nana” passed, and his youngest had yet to be born.

Ben’s wife CJ was just 22 when doctors found a melanoma. Thanks to some excellent Aussie doctors, it was treated successfully with the only lasting effects being some nasty scars, an extensive tinted SPF50+ collection and two daughters who don’t get out the door without being lathered in zinc. For two lads from the UK, Australia’s “Slip, Slop, Slap” and “No Hat, No Play” culture was quite a change from what we grew up with. Having seen what’s at stake, Cancer Council’s sun-safety messages are something our families take seriously. The sunscreen budget reflects that.

Those experiences are why this matters. More time with the people we love. More grandparents watching their grandchildren grow up. More mums and dads around for the ordinary days, as well as the big ones.

Our shared ambition for adventure, within fairly modest practical abilities and risk appetites, somehow became a conversation over alternative-milk lattes. Then it became an entry form. Now we need a car. Ideally one that moves.

Our team needs to raise at least $5,000 for Cancer Council to help fund vital cancer research. We’d love your support, whether that’s a few dollars or something more substantial. 

We’re also open to sponsors, grander ideas and even something off the wall. If you’ve got a way to help us raise more, we’d love to hear it.

Every donation helps us towards the goal and gives this slightly ill-advised road trip a very worthwhile purpose.

We’ll share the preparations, breakdowns and occasional evidence of competence along the way. Thanks for helping us make it count.