Truck Convoy

Almost 700 motorbikes…

Almost 700 trucks…

crowds of kids

and a family fun day…

all to raise money for Camp Quality

and kids with cancer

in the Illawarra.

The Truck Convoy is impressive.

You can’t help but feel

the love and generosity

of thousands of people,

as they line the streets

and cheer as truck after truck

after truck rolls through the streets.

 Horns blast, sirens shriek

and people wave.

This is the 8^th i98 Convoy.

Since the convoys began,

almost 2.18 million dollars

have been raised.

This year, on November 18^th,

the trucks will move

through the streets again.

Rehearsals have taken place,

so volunteers know

how to park the (almost)

700 trucks at Croome Road.

Bands will play, people will sing…

food and drink will be sold

and money

will be thrown into buckets.

People come all the way

from Queensland

to enter the convoy!

Each truck pays

to enter the convoy.

The truck which pays the

highest amount

will lead the convoy.

This will be decided very soon.

Trucks are currently bidding

at $1800…

A very clever idea,

formed by some locals,

is to enter a People’s Truck…

a truck for the people.

Anyone can pay

to have their name,

business name, logo or website

 put on the truck.

Last year, adding names

 lead to a donation

of over $43,000!

These will stay on the truck

 until the 2013 convoy.

As the truck moves around NSW

 and around the other states,

businesses will be advertised…

the People’s Truck

is sure a wonderful sight –

with lists and lists and lists

of names printed on the sides.

I know some names

on the truck this year.

I’ve had a chance to learn

 a little more about

the truck “owners”.

I’m proud of their creativity

and the incredible money

they will raise again this year.

This Sunday,

bring a hat and a drink.

Bring every coin

from behind the lounge,

the floor of the car

or from your dad’s little stash…

 bring a cheering voice

(and maybe, some earplugs!).

 Bring a smile and watch

as the trucks roll by,

each one expressing

their generosity and love

for kids with cancer.

 (I’m not sure what

Crazy Day today is,

but it is Convoy Week -

and that’s sure special!)