Shellharbour truckie Mick Fawell first took part in the i98FM Camp Quality Convoy in 2008 to support others, but his mission soon became personal.
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The next year Mick and Tanya Fawell’s third child, Amber, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour as she was nearing her fourth birthday.
Amber, now 10, has since been through countless rounds of chemotherapy and lost 70 per cent of her hearing, yet with no growth in the tumour for almost two years the family remains positive.
On Sunday Amber will hop into a Illawarra Truck Repairs and Spares truck bearing her name for her favourite event of the year.
‘’Amber loves sitting in the truck, honking the horn and waving to spectators – and we are so grateful for the support of the community,’’ Mrs Fawell said.
‘’It’s amazing to see so many people supporting Camp Quality – which has helped us out in so many ways, from financial help to sending us on camps for some fun and time out.’’
An Albion Park Rail family which has also leant on the children’s charity is looking forward to taking part in this year’s Convoy too.
Justin Fittler and Bronwyn Pine’s middle child Noah, 5, was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis 12 months ago.
‘’He came up with a bump on his head like he’d knocked it but it was a lesion which he had to have surgically removed – hopefully no more lesions appear,’’ Ms Pine said.
‘’Camp Quality has just been amazing – often when your child gets a diagnosis like this you feel isolated so it’s been great to attend camps and meet others who understand exactly what you’re going through.’’
Convoy was the brainchild of i98FM host Marty Haynes who initiated the Illawarra event now back for its 11th year. ‘’It’s great to see how a community can come together and support these kids and their families,’’ Mr Haynes said.
‘’The atmosphere on Convoy day is just electric and it’s amazing when you roll out of West Cliff Colliery and see people lining the road in their thousands.’’
Last year Convoy raised $1.6 million for Camp Quality and this year looks to surpass that with $1.3 million already raised. Camp Quality ACT Illawarra regional manager Sonia Cameron said that money helped them provide a range of practical and emotional assistance for children battling cancer and their families.
The i98FM Camp Quality Convoy is a one-day event that takes place on the third Sunday in November each year.
Over 800 trucks and 1000 motorbikes will depart under police escort from the Illawarra Coal’s West Cliff Colliery on Appin Road at around 8am.
They will drive down Mt Ousley through Warrawong and past Stockland Shellharbour, then onto Croome Road, Albion Park Rail.
At the conclusion of the convoy there’s a free family fun day at Croome Road sporting complex. This year there will be performances by Justice Crew, Nathanial and Luke Koteras.
Spectators are asked to avoid the area surrounding both West Cliff and the Old Princes Highway, Darkes Forest for their own safety.
There are plenty of fantastic vantage points elsewhere along the route, including any of the overpasses on the F6 to Master’s Road; the top of Mt Ousley; Bulli Tops; Master’s Road or King Street, Coniston; Windang Road, Windang; Shellharbour Road, Lake Entrance Road and New Lake Entrance Road, Shellharbour.
