Santa Commodore rolls out for cancer research

Team Santa, comprising Rod and Lyndell Cope, has officially hit the road, leaving Leongatha for Adelaide on Tuesday, August 11, ahead of this year’s Shitbox Rally.

More specifically, the pair will take part in the 2026 Spring Shitbox Rally, also known as the “Last Cab to Darwin,” driving their $1500 Santa and Christmas-inspired Commodore from Adelaide to Darwin to raise money for the Cancer Council.

The pair originally set themselves a fundraising target of $30,000.

They have now raised more than $35,000.

Rod said he would love to see the team get to $40,000 before donations close, although the clock is ticking.

“I’d love to hit $40,000, but we’re probably running out of time a bit,” he said.

People can still donate until the final rally finishes in Darwin on Saturday, August 22.

“Yeah definitely, people can still donate up until the 22nd,” Rod said.

“When we get to Darwin, that’s when it’s cut off.”

The rally will officially leave Adelaide on August 15, and team Santa is one of 225 cars that will travel through the outback to Darwin.

Rod and Lyndell will spend the next few days getting ready for the starting line in Adelaide. During that time, they’ll receive their maps and will be placed into their ‘buddy groups’.

Team Santa will travel alongside six other cars, with the group staying together for the duration of the trip.

Rod said he was excited to finally be on the road after months of planning and fundraising.

“Oh, we’re just rapt, very excited,” he said.

“We’re really looking forward to it.”

For Lyndell, the last few months have shown how strongly the local community has thrown its support behind Team Santa.

“We are overwhelmed by the support of the local community,” she said.

“The people of Meeniyan and Leongatha, the support’s been amazing.

“People have just donated and given us money, we’re so appreciative. The support has been amazing, and aside from that, it’s just great to see so many smiles on people’s faces.”

The cause is one close to the pair’s hearts, as Rod was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 at the age of 51.

He has previously said that one of his main hopes was to encourage more men to get checked, particularly as he had no symptoms when he himself was diagnosed.

Team Santa reached its original fundraising goal after hosting a major charity dinner at the Koonwarra Hall, which was attended by 140 people who raised $13,000 on the night.

When asked which part of the trip they were most looking forward to, they were quick to answer.

“The Oodnadatta Track,” they both said.

This year’s Last Cab to Darwin event has already raised more than $2.1 million for the Cancer Council, adding to more than $66 million that has been raised by Box Rallies since 2010.