With its gleaming purple and yellow livery, one-eyed monster and booming soundtrack, Greg Paff's car is quite the spectacle.
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The car, known as the Purple People Eater, will be one of a 130-strong fleet for the 2019 NSW Variety Bash.
Greg, alongside navigator and partner Terri Patterson, will start in Newcastle on Sunday, May 19 and travel to various locations including Goulburn, West Wyalong, Carrathool, Wagga Wagga and Canberra.
They'll return to Newcastle a week later.
The expedition supports sick, disadvantaged and disabled children by bringing practical equipment to schools and communities. Entrants must raise at least $4000 to take part. About $1 million worth of gear will be handed out during the event.
Greg said the cause helps children overcome obstacles.
"We'll visit schools and communities to help out under privileged kids but we get to see where the money goes which is the real beaut thing," Greg said.
About a dozen support vehicles will follow the group close behind.
After assisting a friend prepare for the event on numerous occasions, Greg jumped at the chance to join in 2011.
"I had a bit more time on my hands and I wanted to see what difference was made to these kids," Greg said.
That's where the Purple People Eater was born.
Flick the radio on in the car and you'll hear the 1950s classic of the same name blare through the speakers. But perhaps the most meaningful accessory to the vehicle is hand-drawn portraits from his grandchildren.
We get to see where the money goes which is the real beaut thing.
- Greg Paff, 2019 NSW Variety Bash entrant
Greg thanked his supporters Cetnaj, Manning Auto Salvage, MacAlpine and Maurer, Wayne Smith Electrical, Holiday Coast U Drive and Dirt Movers Contracting.
"We wanted to support something worthwhile and it's something different that support children in need, it's a great cause," Cetnaj manager Ron Unicomb said.
Several schools in the Taree area have benefited from Variety in the past after receiving 'Sunshine Coaches'.
In 2018, Variety directly impacted 39,302 children with $10.6 million raised to support children in need.
The five most commonly supported conditions are cerebral palsy, epilepsy/seizure disorders, developmental delay, vision impairment and intellectual disability.
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