Kiama schoolboy Kye Yates' dream was to be by his father Peter's side in the lead truck of the i98FM Illawarra Convoy.
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On Sunday, the "beautiful, caring" 10-year-old boy will be in Peter Yates' heart as he drives the lead truck for Convoy in honour of Kye, who tragically died in an ATV accident on the June long weekend.
Five days after his death, Mr Yates and his wife Sheridan ordered a new truck - one in Kye's favourite colours of black and fluorescent green. One that now bears the number plate KYE CON.
"We've named our team Kye's Convoy Dream, because it was his dream to be in the lead truck," Mr Yates said.
"We've been part of Convoy for five years because we know the money goes directly to help out sick kids and their families.
"Kye was just a beautiful, caring boy who was passionate about supporting kids who were sick, or had a disability.
"I know on Sunday he'll be looking down at his truck, proud as punch."
The Yates family bid an amazing $500,000 to secure the lead truck on Thursday. Their team will also lead the motorbikes, after a bid of $105,000 on Wednesday.
The family - which also includes daughters Isabella, 18 and Alysha, 15 - have co-ordinated the Yatcon Civil FMX Jam freestyle motocross at Convoy's family fun day since 2015. The event has brought some of the world's best motocross riders to the event, including Robbie Maddison, Michael Chucky Norris and Dylan McDonald.
"Kye loved motorbikes and his racing number was 5, which was why we aimed to raise $500,000 for the lead truck bid - and we got there thanks to the support of family, friends and the community," Mr Yates said. "Each year Kye would help us as we prepared for the motocross event, raking the track. A few times it was raining and I told him he could stop, but he said 'I'm not leaving dad, I'm doing it for the kids'."
Sunday will be a mixture of "joy and sadness" for the family.
"When our world fell apart on the June long weekend, we didn't know how we could carry on," Mr Yates said.
"But then we thought, Kye wouldn't want that so then we put our hearts into making his dream come true and raise as much money as we could for the cause."
In addition to the $500,000 winning donation for lead truck, Team Dandaloo contributed $280,000 and the People's Truck $170,000.
The Convoy will depart under police escort from Illawarra Coal's West Cliff Colliery on Appin Road at 8.15am and will wind down Mt Ousley, through Warrawong and on to Shellharbour Airport. A family fun day will start around 9.15am.
Proceeds go to the Illawarra Community Foundation.
