By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
ON 10 AUGUST a group of mates will set off on a journey which has been more than two years in the making.
Brad Nash and his team are currently in the sponsorship phase for the 2016 Variety Bash – a 10-day trip which will see participants drive through the centre of Australia, starting in Melbourne and finishing in Darwin.
Variety Children’s Charity works with families and organisations to support children who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs.
Locally, the charity has already donated one bus to the Officer Specialist School and fundraising is currently underway to donate a second bus within the next 18 months.
Brad’s team has already completed the 2013 event when members drove from Melbourne to Broome and raised $63,570 for Variety.
His involvement with the bash started when his father wanted to participate but several friends have also decided to take up the challenge.
“I’m very lucky to have three healthy kids who don’t need assistance, but it’s so important that we support kids who do,” Brad said.
For the past two years they have been renovating and rebuilding their new Variety Bash vehicle around the theme of the Beach Boys which they have dubbed Good Vibrations.
Variety Bash regulations required the team to add steel reinforcements and protection on the undercarriage, install flashing hazard lights and extra brake lights and increase the fuel range to 600 kilometres.
The team has also installed cargo barriers for internal storage, added seatbelts to all seats and installed a rally computer.
Vinyl wrap graphics were also added to give the bus a timber look.
Brad and his team are currently seeking sponsorship for the 2016 Bash and must raise a minimum of $10,000 to enter.
Their total is currently at $1500 however they hope to raise a total of $20,000 in the lead-up to the event.
For information on how to support Brad’s team in the 2016 Variety Bash, contact Brad on 0413 842 237 or at nashy.2@bigpond.com.
