Next week’s Great Escape Car Rally celebrations could retain up to 500 competitors, friends and their families within the Douglas region as tourists.

The 10th annual car rally, which raises money for Cystic Fibrosis research and support, is this year culminated with Port Douglas’ Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis walkathon and will see a huge convoy of rally cars and walkers ascend Macrossan Street next Wednesday afternoon.

Forty-eight cars and around 180 people are taking part in the car rally, with scores of family and friends joining the competitors in Port Douglas in a boost to the local economy.

Visit the Great Escape Car Rally website here

CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Australia, Terry Stewart, said the rally’s first finish Port Douglas would provide an opportunity for competitors to explore the region in the days following the event.

“Being a celebration of our 10th year, Port Douglas is a wonderfully fitting and vibrant town to finish this year’s really in,” he said.

“Part of our celebration is to explore the beautiful reef with all the rally entrants and we are sure the town will celebrate with us.”

Mr Stewart said rally’s culmination with Port Douglas’ Great Strides Walkathon provided a unique opportunity for the two events to work together to achieve great things for Cystic Fibrosis.

“With 48 cars arriving in town after a fun but tiring rally, it’s a unique way to finish by combining it with the Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides walk,” he said.

“The wonderful thing is that we are all working together to achieve great things for Cystic Fibrosis in different ways.”

The entrants of the rally will arrive on Wednesday, September 21 from about 2pm, where they will join with the Great Strides walkathon participants at around 2.45pm from the Mirage Country Club car park, with the top 10-15 car rally fundraisers given a special welcome.

After winding down Macrossan Street, the parade will end at ANZAC Park at approximately 3pm.

That evening, the Central Hotel will host the entrants in a dinner party and awards ceremony, and the following day all entrants will take a trip to the Great Barrier Reef with Quicksilver Cruises.

Mr Stewart said while some of the entrants would start to head back to NSW from Thursday night, many were planning to holiday in the area in the days to follow.