Hundreds of trucks will take to Geelong’s streets this weekend to raise money for families impacted by childhood cancer.
The 11th annual Camp Quality Convoy Geelong will see more than 200 trucks depart from Beckley Park on Sunday 22 February and complete a 40-kilometre circuit down to Waurn Ponds and through Geelong before concluding with a free family festival.
Truck driver Shantelle Mattei will bring a T401 Kenworth truck that she and her father restored to the convoy, and she is currently the second-highest individual fundraiser with over $10,400.
Ms Mattei participated in her first convoy in 2022 in honour of family friend Bella, who was diagnosed with early precursor T cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2015 at six years old.
“Bella went in and out of remission a few times, and then it gradually got worse as it got into her lungs, brain, and riddled her with cancer,” she said.
“She passed away in January just before the convoy of 2022 (at age 13), and I thought it would be a good way to do the convoy in her honour.”
Ms Mattei joined the convoy again in 2024 to honour Bella’s life and raise money for a close family friend’s daughter, Laylah, who was four years old when she was diagnosed with cell B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
“Laylah has since finished treatment and started back at primary school this year, so she’s cancer-free at the moment,” she said.
Visit fundraise.campquality.org.au/convoy/geelong for more information or to donate to the convoy.
