Hundreds of people lined the city streets on Sunday to cheer on the 700 trucks and 1000 motorcycles taking part in Illawarra Convoy.
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The Convoy started at Illawarra Coal’s West Cliff Colliery and made its way down Mt Ousley, through Warrawong and past Stockland Shellharbour before stopping at Croome Road Sporting Complex for a free Family Fun Day.
Before an engine even started on Sunday, organisers had already raised $1.310 million from both the lead truck and bike donations.
The total tally raised won’t be known until at least Monday, with all funds raised in 2017 to go to the Illawarra Community Foundation.
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The foundation established in January, 2017 has already provided support to 35 local families who have a member facing a life threatening illness.
I98FM radio presenter Marty Haynes said he was amazed at people’s support for Convoy and others in the community going through tough times.
‘’I’ve said from day dot we live in such a beautiful place and everyone wants to help,’’ he said.
‘’Convoy is just one of those avenues where we can go out and show people that we love and we care for them and we want to do something for them.
‘’It's probably a very dark and lonely world for someone when they find out their child is sick or a little five year-old or 10-year-old kid knows mum's got breast cancer.
‘’With the trucks and the bikes and the amount of people on the side of the road they know that they are not walking their journey alone.’’
Haynes said teaming up with the Illawarra Community Foundation allowed more kids to be helped.
‘’I took Danielle Crotty today who's got stage four breast cancer. She’s got two little boys...and her bucket list was to ride in Convoy and I said ‘’well you are coming with me’’,’’ he said.
‘’When I cuddled her I broke down and cried because I knew it meant so much to her.’’