LEE Estens and co-driver Barbara Glennie are packed and loaded for an outback adventure as part of Lee’s 17th Variety Bash.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In that time the Moree local has – with the help of the community – raised more than $1 million for the children’s charity. All monies raised go directly to Variety and all Bash participants are responsible for their own car, accommodation, meals, fuel and personal expenses.
Lee has been a passionate supporter of the event since dealing with her own son’s battle with leukaemia.
“Variety assesses with the support of an appeals committee, requests for funding support, which can be lodged on the Variety website,” she said. “Variety helps children, families, schools and organisations when government support isn’t available.”
Over the years a great deal of money raised has supported a range of equipment, medical supplies and individual support across the Moree district.
“The Moree Health Service has received tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment for the hospital including a telehealth camera for the maternity unit, a Vision for Life system, and humidity cribs, ventilators for babies and peadiatric equipment,” Mrs Estens said.
Other items include patient chair scales, diversional therapy and maternity equipment. Major items funded by Variety this year include a Welch Allan monitor and a Masino pulse oximeter which enable accurate diagnosis for paediatric patients.
“Variety – the children’s charity – is very pleased to be able to grant essential equipment to the Moree Hospital which will have a direct impact on the wonderful community it supports,” Variety chief executive officer David Sexton said.
“This is also a community which has generously supported Lee Estens and 16 other Variety Bash drivers over the last 17 years in their fundraising for Variety and for which we are so grateful.”
This year’s Variety Bash will start at Belmore, then head north into Queensland and then on to the Northern Territory with the hope of reaching Buffalo Creek for the presentation dinner.
Towns en-route include: Wellington, Bourke, Thargomindah, Blackall, Winton, Mount Isa, Tennant Creek, Katherine and Jabiru.
About 350 people are expected to take part when the Bash gets under way next Thursday, and they have 10 days of predominately off road driving to make it to the finale on Sunday, August 13. More than 4890km will be covered with an average of over 450km per day.
Mrs Estens is looking forward to the event and sincerely thanked all her “wonderful supporters, sponsors and volunteers”.
“We always like to get to the finish line in our car and I love going through the centre of Australia to the outback with its beautiful sunsets and landscapes,” she said.