Kidney disease is predicted to impact 1 in 3 Australians at some point in their life.

Kidney Health Australia is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping people living with kidney disease, with a view to improving their health outcomes and quality of life as well as that of their families and carers.

You can donate to Kidney Health Australia to aid their mission to save and improve the lives of Australians affected by kidney disease.

DONATE TO KIDNEY HEALTH AUSTRALIA HERE

Raising Funds for Kidney Kids Camps

Every year, Kidney Health Australia hosts the Kidney Kar Rally – where teams drive through the country to raise money for the Kidney Kids Camps. The Camps offer free care and respite for kids who are suffering from Kidney Disease. Fostering a strong support network is vital for young people with a chronic illness.

Retailing at just $15, all proceeds of the medallion will go
directly to Kidney Health Australia.

Struck to proof standard, the 40mm medallion is finished in genuine gold. It also comes presented in a colourful, informative pack.

With the limited edition set at just 1,000, you’ll want to secure yours quickly! 

Downies is proud to be involved in the Kidney Kar Rally for the 11th year. Launched in 1989, our very own Ken and Kath Downie will take part in the 31st Kidney Kar Rally this August.

Kath and Ken Downie are ready for the adventure of a lifetime - and it's all for a very good cause.

These sponsors have made our fundraiser for the 2018 Kidney Kar Rally possible. Thank you. 

Did you know that March 5-11 was Kidney Health week?

Editor’s note: Kath Downie shares more of her 2017 Kidney Kar Rally adventures in her blog post below!

After having the two afternoon stages cancelled on Friday, we faced the same bad news for the first two stages on Saturday. So we took off from Moama and travelled to Urana School for lunch before completing the final two stages of this year's rally.

The Kar in action!

So after the pics of the canola yesterday, we hit some serious forest tracks - well, some might call them tracks but many were barely visible!!! It was a tough stage (class 3) with some serious focus needed by both driver and navigator from beginning to end. But we got through it (1 minute early) unscathed! Then the final stage which, although it was a class 1, saw us venture into a couple more forest tracks before we overtook a couple of the leaders and before we knew it we were the first to cross the line at the finish! Not that this counts for anything but our time was perfect and we were greeted by a large crowd of locals and rally officials. As is normal at the end of the rally, we all gather at the finish line for a light refreshment while we cheer everyone finishing. We then convoy it into Wagga, check into our hotel and get ready for the official closing dinner.

So not only did we manage being the 4th highest fundraiser for the second year in a row, we finished equal 14th for the whole rally, so we are pretty pleased with ourselves really! Congratulations to the Bathurst Surf Life Saving Club for being the outright winners of the rally and to all the competitors for their camaraderie and their fundraising for those amazing Kidney Kids - that's why we do it!

Until next year...when we will be tackling Goulburn to Queanbeyan via Ballarat!

Editor’s note: Kath Downie shares more of her 2017 Kidney Kar Rally adventures in her blog post below!

Two stages cancelled and many changes today...lunch at Ouyen primary school and then bitumen to Moama!

We are on our way to Moama after completing the two stages this morning and enjoying a spectacular lunch at Ouyen College!

So. Much. Canola.

Two class 3 stages...I can't say done and dusted as there was not so much dust but heaps of water and mud! After nearly taking out a couple of photographers who were strategically placed to get splash shots, we slipped and slid our way through lots of mud and stopped just short of a fixed camera they had placed on a bend! Soon after that we span out and ended up sideways on an embankment! Scary as hell at the time but quite funny looking back now! Needless to say poor little Subie is a little the worse for wear and in need of a good wash!

The Kar is in need of a kleen!

Editor’s note: Kath Downie shares more of her 2017 Kidney Kar Rally adventures in her blog post below!

Last night's 'Silver City'-themed fancy dress event definitely delivered some very creative costumes! Congratulations to this team, for what can only be described as an outstanding commitment to the theme!

I'm not sure that Paul and Scott from Bendigo thought this outfit through - how does one drink one's beer?

Broken Hill has been a great place to stay for the day - the whole city promotes Kidney Health!

But with our rest day behind us, it was time to jump back into the car for another day of adventure.

With three stages down and one to go before we arrived in Renmark for the night, we stopped for lunch at the Coombah Roadhouse.

We discovered that one car was out with a fuel pump problem, and another with an injury to the side from a rogue roo!

There's been a lot of dust today, and some very long (and not so winding roads, like this beauty:

And there've also been some iconic Australian sights.

As we drew closer to Renmark, though, the contrast in our surroundings was immediately apparent.

And our room in Renmark provided a terrific view of the Mighty Murray!

Overall, we had thought we'd had a pretty good day, but it seems the averages were a little faster than we anticipated, particularly in the last one! 2 minutes late on the first stage, even on the second, 1 early on the third and 3 late on the last! So 6 points down for the day, plus our 4WD penalty sees us at 17th overall. We don't find out our scores tomorrow, they save them up till the final night so no-one knows where they might finish up!

It looks like the rain has already impacted on tomorrow's stages...the 'day before car' has been out and determined the 3rd and 4th stages are too dangerous so it looks like it'll be bitumen roads from Ouyen to Moama. Oh well, maybe I'll have time for an afternoon nanna nap!!!

Editor’s note: Kath Downie shares more of her 2017 Kidney Kar Rally adventures in her blog post below!

Today is our rest day, an essential part of any rally! Typically, we use the spare day to make any minor repairs to our Kar, do a bit of sightseeing and, of course, try and get a bit of rest.

Being in Broken Hill, today's rest day meant an obligatory trip out to nearby Silverton to visit the Mad Max Museum.

Given the fact that Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior was filmed out here, it was the perfect place to take a behind-the-scenes look at the 1981 hit.

There was plenty to see!

We then went to the beautiful lookout at Mundi Mundi. Looks like you could drive off the edge of Australia!

Back in Broken Hill, the Geocentre Museum also provided plenty to look at, including the famous Silver Tree.

And in continuing with the theme of 'silver,' we capped the day off with the Rally's 'Silver City'-themed dress-up night. (Many thanks to the very talented David Bowler!)

There wasn't much rest to be had, but rest assured, it was a sensational day!

Today is our rest day, an essential part of any rally! Typically, we use the spare day to make any minor repairs to our Kar, do a bit of sightseeing and, of course, try and get a bit of rest.

Being in Broken Hill, today's rest day meant an obligatory trip out to nearby Silverton to visit the Mad Max Museum.