What’s Happening?
The fourth annual Buc-Car-Neers fundraiser will travel through regional Queensland and New South Wales for Childhood Cancer Support. The pirate-themed road trip leaves Caloundra on Saturday 12 September 2026.
Why It Matters
The fundraiser supports regional families who travel to Brisbane for their child’s cancer treatment. It was founded by Queensland dads Michael Brown and his mate Tony, whose sons both survived childhood cancer.
“Tony and I were what you’d call tired charity bashers, we’d done the big events and wanted something more personal,” Brown said. “We wanted something that any family could join, in any car, without a big entry fee.”
“Childhood Cancer Support was part of our family’s story, my son Cameron was treated at the Royal Children’s Hospital in 1998 and again in 2008, and Childhood Cancer Support gave us a roof over our heads during those times. We wanted to give something back.”
Local Impact
The route runs from Caloundra through Oakey, Goondiwindi, Lightning Ridge, Texas and Dalby before finishing in Mooloolaba. This year’s stay in Lightning Ridge takes the event into New South Wales for the first time.
In Oakey, teams aim to arrive around 4 pm on Sunday 13 September. They plan to be on the road by about 8 am on Monday 14 September.
Later in the week, they aim to reach Dalby around 4 pm on Friday 18 September. Departure is planned from about 8 am on Saturday 19 September for the run to Mooloolaba. No formal public events are scheduled in either town.
“What makes this event special is that it stays small by design,” Brown said. “We stay in towns that bigger events can’t cope with. We slow down, explore, and actually enjoy the journey. And every dollar we raise goes to families who are far from home and facing the unimaginable, families like ours once were.”
By The Numbers
- Roughly $60,000 has been raised across the previous three trips. This includes around $14,000 in year one, around $16,000 in year two and just over $30,000 last year.
- The 2026 target was set at $20,000, kept conservative because participant costs have risen. Each team raises at least $1,000, with every dollar going directly to Childhood Cancer Support.
- Nineteen participants will travel in eight cars over eight days through regional Queensland and into New South Wales.
Zoom In
Organisers and co-founder Michael Brown shared the trip’s plans in an exclusive question and answer with The Toowoomba Minute. Entry remains free, with no special vehicle requirements. Bash cars, classics, campervans and motorcycles are welcome, while participants manage their own meals and accommodation. Brown said fundraising is completed before departure, making the week on the road a reward for entrants’ efforts.
Although the format has barely changed, Brown said preparations have increased, including a welcome pack and roadbook for every entrant. The roadbook tells the route’s story and highlights places to see along the way. Daily dress-up themes connect the trip with Childhood Cancer Support’s annual Talk Like a Pirate Day fundraiser. These include Hippy Hawaiians in Goondiwindi, Western gear in Texas and Christmas costumes in Dalby.
Daily treasure hunts and unplanned roadside stops add to the activities, alongside a Buc-Car-Neers token passed secretly between participants. Whoever is caught holding it at the end of each day pays a fine.
Brown told The Toowoomba Minute that planning activities between destinations was the biggest challenge in coordinating the convoy.
“The planning to get from each location to the next, and making sure there is something interesting and challenging to do on the way to keep people’s interest. We find some amazing things along the way.”
Last year, Brown examined Google Maps kilometre by kilometre while planning a lunch stop in Jundah. On the route out towards Longreach and Winton, he found a marked attraction near Stonehenge called the Address Book. People have spent decades spelling names and messages in rocks along both sides of the road there.
“It was kilometres down each side of the road, all these messages. We left our group name there. It was probably the highlight of our event, just the happening of it.”
Zoom Out
The event has grown since its first trip, although Brown wants to preserve its small group format. He told The Toowoomba Minute that keeping numbers manageable remained part of its appeal.
“We started with four cars and we are up to eight vehicles this year. Ten would be really good, but we do not want to get too big, because that changes it. We are quite boutique and we like being small. We stay in towns that bigger events cannot cope with.”
Childhood Cancer Support also marks its 50th anniversary in 2026, having supported regional Queensland families since 1976. Thousands of families have been provided with accommodation while their children undergo cancer treatment in Brisbane. Alongside accommodation, the charity provides counselling and transport services.
What To Look For Next?
The teams will finish in Mooloolaba on Saturday 19 September 2026, coinciding with Talk Like a Pirate Day. Supporters can donate or find registration information on the Buc-Car-Neers website before the trip begins.
