David Vidovic and Andrew Heydon will set out in a 1973 model Rover from Newcastle on May 20 to raise funds and awareness as they travel through several small towns, visiting schools and clubs along the way. 

“It may not have done a distance like that in 30 years,” David said.

Variety challenges participants in the seven day ‘bash’ to take on the trek in cars 30 years or older. The duo have modified the car to stand up to the test of bush roads. 

Andrew was inspired to take part in the challenge after watching a story on television about Variety while sitting with his premature baby daughter in John Hunter Hospital. 

The charity supports Australian children with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or who are facing geographic isolation or financial hardship.

“I didn’t realise how much they actually give to struggling children,” Andrew said. While his daughter is healthy now, the thought of supporting other children remained strong in his mind. 

“There’s a lot of disadvantaged kids out there, especially out west in smaller towns that get forgotten about, so to speak.”

“It could be something as small as a tablet or a laptop that they’re struggling to get or it could even be a wheelchair or something.”

Also a father and a godfather, David connected with the cause quickly.

“Not only that, the previous job before I started what I’m doing now was going around and airconditioning all the schools in every little town out as far west as Lightning Ridge and Walgett,” he said.

“You see how far they are behind. I’ll do Boggabilla School one day and do Armidale the next, and even the difference between those were huge.”

David said Variety helps close gaps like these, and he was pleased that the bash will take volunteers through several small and isolated towns. 

“They’re not on the main highway. We have to go off the beaten track to get to them and they get more awareness through 80-90 cars going through there.”

Held from May 20-26, the duo will make their way from Newcastle up to Nundle, Glen Innes and Tulloona, down to Narrabri through to Forbes, west to Griffith and back towards Newcastle via Orange and Mudgee. 

The exact route has not been released, and David and Andrew won’t know if they’ll be driving through Inverell on their way to Glen Innes until the last minute. 

Visit https://nswbash2018.everydayhero.com/au/andrew-dave-car-17-1 if you’d like to support David and Andrew’s Variety Bash.