Airlie Beach Hotel owner Michael McFie, Mackay teacher raise money for Cancer Council

The owner of an Airlie Beach pub and a Mackay educator are coming together in their ‘old reliable’ cars to fight cancer in a race described as the ‘mad baby brother’ of an iconic rally.

Driving in honour of their friend Mark Alexander, Mick and Andrew will be driving their 1997 Fairlane.

The owner of the Airlie Beach Hotel and a Mackay schoolteacher are gearing up in their shitbox cars to fight cancer.

To help fund cancer research and services provided by Cancer Council drivers rally in 25+ year old cars under $1500 cars to drive a 2500km cross country loop — the Mystery Box rally.

A shrine to Mark Alexander has been built at the Airlie Beach Hotel.

Airlie Beach Hotel owner Michael McFie is joining the 2024 event and will be thinking of a person close to him.

“We lost our head chef to pancreatic cancer,” Mr McFie said.

“He was an integral part of our business but more mate than employee.”

Airlie Beach Hotel head chef Mark Alexander passed away within nine months of his diagnosis at the age of 47, a loss which inspired Mr McFie and best friend Andrew Bell to join the 2024 rally.

Airlie Beach Hotel owner Mick McFie bought the hotel with his wife in 2019.

“Cancer doesn’t affect you until it has a direct effect,” he said.

“It didn’t affect me until Mark passed away.”

Mr McFie and Mr Bell will gather alongside their fellow drivers at Coconut Grove Car Park, Airlie Beach on August 17 where the first destination will be revealed to them.

From there they will drive 500 km each day through a mystery route until they return to the starting point on August 21.

Joining them will be the Mackay team Not Lost Just Looking led by schoolteacher Jo-Ann.

The 2019 Mystery Box Rally took drivers from Byron Bay to Glen Innes on a 2500km mystery loop.

A veteran of four Shitbox rallies, Jo-Ann has raised more than 30k since her first rally in 2019.

“We hope one day there’ll be a cure and no one else will have to walk the same journey as our friends and family have,” Jo-Ann said.

Jo-Ann’s mother, grandmother and grandfather have all had cancer, but when Jo-Ann’s 21 year old daughter was diagnosed “it became personal”.
“I became even more motivated to help the cause,” she said.
The services (Cancer Council) offered to my daughter while she was going through her treatment was just a godsend.”

Jo-Ann and Jodee with the "king of the Commodores" Lionel.

Joining Jo-Ann will be her friend Jodee and their returning Holden Commodore Wagon rally vehicle.

This is the second appearance of the Commodore after it successfully carried the two from Port Douglas to Adelaide in an automotive performance worthy of a Top Gear special.

“To do it in a car worth less than $1500 people think ‘you must be crazy’,” she said.

“It’s a brilliant way to support a charity that you’re passionate about and have a unique experience at the same time.”

So far Michael McFie and Andrew Bell have smashed the team fundraising record of $51,800 raising almost $60,000 before the race starts.