Dirt n’ Dust Run: Albany contingent taking part in mental health fundraiser for South Bunbury Rotary Club

Six brave Albany drivers will take to the dusty roads of rural Western Australia later this month to raise money for mental health support in disaster-hit communities.

Travis Baker (Mario Kart), Caterina Bending (Silver Bullet), Liam Bottomley and Joshua Kerr (Down Under Duo) will be returning to the track for the 2024 Dirt n’ Dust Run on October 16 with Albany real estate duo Darren Leslie and Lee Mulvey taking part for the first time.

Driving on an unknown remote route for five days, teams are given a route each morning to a lunch destination, then another to their camp spot, with activities scheduled for the rural towns they visit along the way.

The initiative raises money for the South Bunbury Rotary Club’s Mental Health Disaster Aid Fund, which aims to bolster mental health resilience and recovery in communities hit by disasters across the State.

Mr Baker, who will be driving with his son and has competed for all six years the event has run, said every year is different.

“Through the day, there’ll be activities, there’ll be mazes, there’ll be auctions, a few challenges and quizzes along the way,” he said.

“There’s three days of dress up as well: Desert Storm Trooper, saints and sinners, and Wild West.

“We have lots of fun.”

Ray White general manager Darren Leslie said he had heard about the run from Mr Baker for years before jumping into a vehicle himself.

“I said to him, if you get a spare spot, let me know I would be interested in being your guy,” he said.

“And he goes, just put your own car in!”

Mr Leslie and Ray White agent Lee Mulvey, dubbed the “Property Nutters”, said they are excited to take part for the first time and have already raised $6398.

“Lee came on board in the business in the last year and he’s a car fanatic, so it just made sense, we got together, and here we are,” Mr Leslie said.

“It should be a bit of an adventure and the money is going to a great cause.

“We haven’t even done this year yet and we’re already putting together a team for next year, getting our female reps on board.”

The course starts at the Dwellingup Hotel on October 16 and finishes in Bunbury at the Surf Life Saving Club on October 20.

Donations can be made online at www.sbrc.net.au/event/dirt-and-dust/donate.