General News
15 May, 2026
Revving engines for charity
CAR, motorbike and truck enthusiasts are being encouraged to register for a special ride to support a family whose primary provider is facing a significant health battle.
As Western District Newspapers reported last week, Darryl Eldred was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia – a cancer which affects the blood and bone marrow – and has been forced to close his one-man business as he faces treatment.
Nigel Finlayson and Mark Pascoe have organised a special fundraising ride – Ride for Dazza – to help support the family through everyday expenses.
Mr Finlayson said the ride, planned for Saturday, May 30, began as Mr Pascoe’s idea but Mr Finlayson had expanded on it.
“We thought we’d better do something because he’s going to have a hard time at home while battling the beast,” he said.
“We thought we’d try to help him out at home because he’s the sole provider for the family – bills at home still come through, so we thought we’d get something underway.
“He’d go out and help anyone else – we though it’s about time we do it for him and look after him.
“It’s open to everything with a motor and wheels – trucks, cars and bikes.
“Darryl loved everything, so we thought we’d open it up to everyone and try and get a fair bit of support behind it.”
Mr Pascoe said the ride was three weeks in the making, with strong interest already generated.
“At this stage, it’s going to be a meet and greet down at Lake Bullen Merri south beach where the Camperdown and District Motorcycle Club house is,” he said.
“Registrations will be there for the ride that day, as well as donations.
“It’ll be a small run around the area to Lismore, then across to Mortlake for lunch and back around to the Junction Motel for a quick raspberry.
“Then we go back to the Hampden Hotel where Darryl was a bit of a regular for lunch or meals with the family and then back to the club.
“There’ll be raffles throughout the day and major raffles that night to raise more money – there’ll also be a $10 donation for a barbecue tea.”
Registrations open at 8.45am on the day at $30 per person, with the registration fee including a bumper sticker.
The ride is planned to leave Lake Bullen Merri’s south beach by 9.30am.
Mr Finlayson said he has been thrilled with the strong level of community support for the upcoming ride.
“All the stops we’re doing on the day are going to jump on board and do a mini raffle at each stop,” he said.
“There’ll be a major one back at the clubrooms, and then the social club at the Hampden Hotel will do a big raffle too.
“We haven’t set any goals – just as much as we can do.
“We hope to help Darryl’s mindset so he doesn’t have to stress about having a roof over his kids’ heads, food on the table and clothes on the kids’ backs and take one worry away from him while he’s dealing with the beast.
“We’ve got young kids ourselves, so it made us think about doing something for him.”
Mr Pascoe said the club also has plans for other types of merchandise to sell to support fundraising efforts in addition to the bumper stickers being handed out on the day of the ride.
“We want to raise as much as we can to help the family with living expenses,” he said.
“We know, unfortunately, we can’t help on the medical side.
“If we can raise a couple of thousand, even just for groceries for the next month or two – just simple things like that – would be awesome.”
Mr Pascoe encouraged everyone to sign up, but also to make sure they looked after their health after a check-up appointment caught Mr Eldred’s cancer.
“Don’t ignore going to the doctors,” he said.
“I ignored going to the doctors for a bit – everyone says once you get over 40, you start losing this and that, but I was diagnosed with diabetes.
“Don’t be afraid to go to the doctors – it could be nothing, and a lot of the time for people it is.”
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