Rallying support for great desert adventure

Published 7:00am 26 May 2021

Wendy Heath was “thinking of doing adventure things” when she discovered Australia’s longest charity rally.

Now the countdown is on for Wendy and son Ronan Heath-Bourke, from Burpengary East, ahead of the 2021 Great Endeavour Rally Simpson Desert Adventure.

The rally, from August 5-14, is ‘sold out’ with 61 teams aiming to cover 4000kms in three states over 10 days through remote parts of central Australia.

Rallying support

All, including Wendy and Ronan, who lived in Redcliffe for many years, are raising funds for the Endeavour Foundation which helps those with intellectual disability.

“Ronan has had a lot of challenges and we’re doing the rally to support people like him,” said Wendy, who is part of the four-person Team Ronan Trail Blazers.

“Young people want to live their best life and have the same opportunities everyone has. Ronan likes adventure and likes to travel.

“This will be a great social experience for him.”

Wendy and Ronan preparing for Australia's longest charity rally.

Ronan's gold

Ronan was born with Down Syndrome and had leukaemia when he was three, spending two months in intensive care.

He went to school on the peninsula and in his senior year at Redcliffe Special School was a student leader. He graduated in 2019.

At the recent Special Olympics Queensland Games, Ronan won gold with a personal best time in the 50m backstroke, silver at 50m breaststroke and bronze in the 100m freestyle.

Team Ronan has a fundraising sausage sizzle at Bunnings Rothwell on Sunday June 6 where they will also be selling raffle tickets.

First prize is a night at the Branell Homestead in the Lockyer Valley, second is Muputrax recovery tracks donated by Off Road Central, Rothwell and third Event Cinema gold class tickets and food voucher.

Iconic routes

The desert adventure has been months in the planning with entrants having to meet a raft of requirements, including spare parts for their vehicles and UHF radios.

Teams will drive from St George to Tibooburra (NSW), Mungerannie (SA), Birdsville and finish at Charleville following routes such as the Strezlecki Track, Walkers Crossing, Warburton and Birdsville Tracks and the K1 line.

There will be members of the Australian Defence Force travelling with them providing mechanical support.

To donate to Team Ronan Trail Blazers visit fundraise.endeavour.com.au/fundraisers/TeamRonanTrailblazers/great-endeavour-rally-2021

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