The drivers of the Camp Quality esCarpade are a
colourful lot. Some dress up as nuns, or as the Flintstones, or dub
their car 'The Boogermobile', or don tuxedos and roll out the red
carpet every time they exit their Rolls Royce during a week-long
3000km adventure.
"You have to have a quirky sense of humour to participate," Mark
Duggan explained. "If you're bashful or have issues with expressing
yourself, you're not going to survive this thing." Duggan, together
with pal Brett Norton, work in IT in Canberra, but during the
esCarpade, they'll assume new identities. They will be the 'Fun
Police', a duo less about crime fighting and more about bubble
blowing, water pistol squirting and handing out lollies. In
previous years, the two planned a Blues Brothers theme, but found
this baffled kids who had no idea who the Blues Brothers were. The
men are gearing up for the esCarpade, a motoring adventure from
October 14-21 during which they'll cover 450km-500km daily as part
of a convoy of 70 unusual cars driven by the aforementioned quirky
types - groups of friends, families or colleagues, who hail from
around the country and unite to raise money for the children's
cancer charity.
Camp Quality gives child cancer patients "time out" from their
disease through fun therapy and education. The duo has raised about
$13,000 so far and is targeting $25,000. Duggan said the event was
fun, but also draining because it was like a rally. There was a
trip meter and trip notes to follow daily, something to be managed
by the co-driver, plus stringent safety rules. Norton said the best
part of the adventure was the look on the school children's faces
when they saw the convoy pull up, sirens blaring and horns
blasting. "They're over-awed by the whole experience." To boost
their fund-raising total, Duggan and Norton have planned a
breakfast seminar on Thursday. Canberra Raiders chief executive Don
Furner, ACT Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan, and
representatives of the Canberra Capitals will speak at the
breakfast and ABC 666 radio's Tim Gavel is master of ceremonies.
The topic of discussion is sporting champions using social media to
engage with fans and generate business.
Special guest speaker will be 16-year-old Ross Green, of
Palmerston, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2007. Tickets to
the Social Media and Sport Breakfast Seminar cost $60 each and can
be bought online at www.opc.com.au/escarpade
PHOTO: 'Laugh Enforcement' Canberra Raiders captain Alan
Tongue, left, chats with the Fun Police, Mark Duggan, centre, and
Brett Norton.
Canberra Times
12/08/2011