Endeavour Rally 2023: Chicken Run, BenTenn up for charity fundraiser

No clucks have been given by a number of plucky North Queensland men willing to go to extreme ‘lengths’ to raise money for an important charity.

Mr January, Wayne Dean-Stuy of the Chicken Run, poses for the Cocks and Frocks calendar to raise money for the Great Endeavour Rally 4WD fundraiser, which begins in Cairns on Friday. Picture: Supplied

No clucks have been given by a number of plucky North Queensland men willing to go to extreme lengths to raise money for an important charity.

Townsville couple Kerry and Wayne Dean-Stuy of “The Chicken Run” fame are competing in the Great Endeavour Rally 4WD fundraiser for a fifth-successive year.

The couple, former free-range chicken farm managers, said it was becoming increasingly difficult to fundraise and had come up with the concept of creating a Cocks and Frocks calendar, admittedly after a couple of beers.

“I mentioned it to a couple of the blokes on the rally,” Mrs Dean-Stuy said, “and they were like, ‘absolutely’.”

She said about 40 men, including her initially reluctant husband, gathered at a rural property owned by “Mr December” Scott Law outside of Brisbane and frocked up for a photo shoot.

Townsville couple Kerry and Wayne Dean-Stuy of ‘The Chicken Run’ fame are competing in the Great Endeavour Rally 4WD fundraiser for a fifth-successive year. They will be joined by mates and first-timers Ben and Tennille Sunderland, also known as ‘BenTenn’. Founded in 1988, the Great Endeavour Rally has been raising money and awareness for 35 years. More than $600,000 was raised in 2022, a record for a second consecutive year. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Dean-Stuy said they sold about 400 units, raising more than $8000 for Endeavour before the race even began in Cairns on Friday.

She said the calendar was so successful that plans were already under way for a 2024 edition themed “Feathers and Leathers”.

Mr December Scott Law. Picture: Supplied

Kerry and Wayne, also known as Mr January, will this year be joined on the rally by mates and first-timers, Townsville husband-and-wife duo Ben and Tennille Sunderland, also known as “BenTenn”.

“Tennille is my hairdresser and I must have gone on a bit about it because she told me they were going to do it too,” she said.

“They are rally virgins so I don’t think they are really sure what to expect.”

Great Endeavour Rally 4WD fundraiser “virgins” BenTenn said they could not wait to start the 10-day, 3500km round trip from Cairns to Cape York on Friday. Picture: Supplied

“We did that one year and they put a chain and padlock around the brake pedal and steering wheel and we had to pay $50 to get it unlocked.”

She said an unfortunate woman had left her ciders in the back of her unlocked vehicle and had to spend $250 to retrieve her drinks at an auction later that night.

“It’s a lot of fun, there’s always Vegemite on gates or rubber snakes tied to gates, you’ve got to be on your toes.”

The Sunderlands said they could not wait to start the 10-day, 3500km round trip from Cairns to Cape York.

“We joined the great race because we are good friends with the Chicken Run, and they talk about the shenanigans all the time,” Mrs Sunderland said.

“We get to see first-hand what Endeavour Foundation does for our own community, so we jumped at the chance to get on board … plus we get to hang out with some friends and have a pile of fun.”

You can donate to The Chicken Run directly HERE or to BenTenn HERE.

Founded in 1988, the Great Endeavour Rally has been raising money and awareness for 35 years.

More than $600,000 was raised in 2022, a record for a second consecutive year.

Originally published as Endeavour Rally 2023: Chicken Run, BenTenn up for charity fundraiser