After raising more than $7.7 million to help children with cancer over 11 years the i98FM Camp Quality Convoy is broadening its focus. This year it is re-branding the event on November 20 by changing its name to the i98FM Illawarra Convoy. Established in 2005 the annual truck and motorcycle convoy has drawn the interest and support of thousands of people every year to help Camp Quality.
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It has become such a fundraising juggernaut that i98FM station manager Sean O’Shannassy, convoy creator Marty Haynes and breakfast show co-host Fairlie Hamilton announced on Tuesday a decision had been made to set up a foundation. The new name reflects a commitment to support a range of charities, including Camp Quality.
“We began with the goal of raising $20,000 for kids and their families..living with cancer and in the first year the Illawarra community took up the gauntlet and donated $52,000,” Marty said.
“That generosity has grown to the point that we now feel we can broaden the scope of our support to the many worthy charitable causes in the region. Our region is well known for its generosity and with the encouragement of the trucking and biking community, we believe this is a step forward to expand our beneficiaries. Camp Quality does amazing work for children with cancer and we can continue to support their efforts while extending our reach to other charities.”
Mr O’Shannassy said i98FM was regularly inundated with requests for assistance from charities and individuals within the Illawarra.
“While we do our best to help wherever we can, we are often unable to assist those who reach out to us in the meaningful way that we’d like to,” he said.
“With the continued generosity of those in our region, this development now means that donations will not only support Camp Quality, but also help others that are in need. It’s certainly an exciting time for all of us involved in Convoy and we are thrilled that the event has evolved to a point where it can have an even greater impact on our community.”
Illawarra Convoy will contribute to the region’s charities through the development of a foundation which will also manage the administrative and financial costs of running the event.
The foundation will determine how the funding is distributed and provide regular updates on which charities are receiving money.
Camp Quality chief executive Simon Rountree said the charity supported the move because it is important that an event as successful as Convoy benefited as many people as possible.
“We have been so proud to be associated with the development and growth of Convoy over the past 11 years. The dedication from Marty and the i98FM team alongside our Camp Quality office has left a lifetime legacy to the Illawarra region that will now see i98FM and the committee take it to new levels in the coming years,” he said.
“While Camp Quality will not be instrumental in the running of the Illawarra Convoy, we understand and appreciate the support it will now give to other local charities. We are still excited to be a part of the Illawarra Convoy in 2016 as a beneficiary which will continue to support the need for creating a better life for children living with cancer and their families.’
