Elders have this week announced their partnership with Tail End Charlie, the tractor taking on Australia to raise funds and awareness for prostate and breast cancer.
Starting in Wundowie, WA on July 7 for the 60th Anniversary Run, Tail End Charlie will traverse the country, finishing back in WA at the National Ballooning Championships in Northam on September 2.
Tail End Charlie’s story originates from the Mobilgas Round Australia Rally in 1957 where Ron Bywaters, a fresh faced 22-year-old sales cadet set the challenge of building a crew to enter a 1955 Chamberlain Tractor as a sweep vehicle.
Although not qualifying for the race as a competitor, the tractor was allowed to participate as support to the race vehicles and managed to finish in 19 days.
In 2007 the new Tail End Charlie took to the streets in a 50 year anniversary re-enactment of the 1957 Rally with Mr Bywaters once again on the crew.
The event took 38 days and raised $22,000 for the Breast Cancer Association of W.A. and Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Tail End Charlie will travel across Australia stopping at approximately fifty locations, with Elders sponsorship funding costs involved in the trip, as well as hosting events to further the cause through local branches in many towns.
Tail End Charlie Rally Event Manager Ron Bywaters says the most important aspect of the event is raising awareness for prostate and breast cancer.
“Early detection is the key to winning the battle against these forms of cancer so we need to spread the word within rural communities about just how important it is for both men and women to have regular screening,” says Mr. Bywaters.
“We are grateful to Elders for partnering with us to achieve this goal.”
Donations and sponsorships are still being sought, for more information contact the Northam Visitors Centre on 9622 2100.
More information and promotional items may be sourced from the Northam Visitors Centre or www.tailendcharliethetractor.org.
