by Mat Churchill

The Variety Club are heading to Port Douglas as part of their Variety Club Bash, a nine day journey that takes participants from the Gold Coast to Port Douglas.

420 'bashers' in more than 100 cars are hoping to raise $1.4 million for sick, special needs, and disadvantaged Queensland kids by retracing the journey which started 21 years ago.

The endeavour which stretches over 2,000km starts at Sea World on the Gold Coast and takes in Gympie, Biloela, Emerald, Lake Dunn, Charters Towers, Innisfail, Tinnaburra, and Port Douglas.

Cars will cross the finish line at Wharf Street at around 2.30pm on Friday before the Bash kicks off its 21st birthday celebrations in Rex Smeal Park on Friday night to the music of the Neil Diamond Show's 'Hot August Night'.

A special mention should go to Rendezvous Reef Resort who are thrilled to be the official accommodation for the Variety Bash.   Rendezvous Reef Resort will be welcoming the Bashers before the race ends out at the Sky Safari Airport just north of Port Douglas where they will be receiving their room keys and making their way to the resort.  Swish Restaurant & Bar will be providing a hearty breakfast to over 400 bashers on Saturday morning to celebrate their journey.

Variety is a world wide organisation which began 75 years ago in the United States before coming to Australia 35 years ago with Paul Hogan as its first chairman.

Variety Queensland is involved in everything from lifesaving operations and Sunshine Coaches for school children in remote or disadvantaged communities, to equipment for children’s hospitals, communication and mobility devices, wheelchairs and walking frames, camps for sick and special needs children, learning aides, cochlear implants to restore hearing.

Donations to support the Bash can be made through Variety Queensland.