Ray White owner on the Variety Bush Bash raising money for sick kids

Big hearted Ray White Toronto owner Paul Wrigley is spending this week driving an his 1966 Holden HR rally car around NSW on his fourth Variety Bush Bash to help raise money for sick children. 

Wrigley has owned Ray White Toronto | Wangi for more than 18 years.

Wrigley, pictured above on the right with his mate and co-driver, says this cause was very important to him because all children deserved to have opportunities in life. 

“My kids have a great life full of opportunities and I want to be able to make a difference to as many Aussie kids as I can,” said Wrigley who set off in his 1966 Holden HR sedan on the week long rally from Newcastle to Glen Innes, Narrabri, Forbes, Griffith, Orange then Mudgee and back to Newcastle. 

“The Bush Bash is all about the kids but we do get to drive around parts of NSW that we normally wouldn’t do or see so it is a win win for me. I get a week off work driving around the countryside raising money for disadvantaged or disabled kids! Why not hey?!” 

Last year, the Variety Bush Bash raised more than $850,000 for local children who are sick, have a disability or experiencing financial hardship.

Wrigley said donations go towards providing iPads/laptops to a remote school or towards sensory lighting to severely disabled kids throughout all parts of NSW. 

“There’s sporting grants to disabled kids that have a passion or a talent in their chosen field. A wheelchair helped a disabled kid in Forster who had never been on the sand. They bought an air conditioner for a family who couldn’t afford one for their son has a heart condition where if the temperature of the house isn’t consistent he could die,” he said.

Other donations have bought a 22 seater bus for remote rural community schools so the teacher could drive the school kids to state sporting events where they wouldn’t be able to participate otherwise. 

His rally car is basically ready each year as long as nothing breaks on it. 

“The Bash route is designed to cover as many dirt tracks as we can so there are the odd parts that break along the way,” he said. 

“I try and raise as much money as I can each year for the bash plus I do a few other events throughout the year.” 

Over the last three years Wrigley personally helped raise more than $50,000 for this charity.