Speaking on Thursday, Kaela Barnes said she and her mother Gina had already left for the Mystery Box Rally, which starts and finishes in Mildura. 

As they must race with an old car they have taken a 26-year-old Mitsubishi Magna, which had been running well on the road.

“It’s actually handling the roads so far, there’s been no problems - touch wood!” Kaela laughed. 

Going to the rally was a family effort, as her apprentice mechanic brother checked the car over and her father helped with donations.

READ MORE: Mystery Box Rally draws mother and daughter team from Tarraganda

Kaela said the days leading up to the rally had been stressful as she and her mother tried to get everything organised.

“But now we are on the road it feels like we’ve set off on an adventure,” she said. 

The aim of the rally is to raise funds for the Cancer Council of Australia and the duo has already raised $3600 for the cause from members of the community as well as a pizza and bingo night held in July. 

“It was good, the community spirit has definitely shown. We really didn’t think we’d get that far,” Kaela said. 

They were riding in memory of her grandmother on her father’s side, who lost her battle with cancer two years ago. 

“A lot of people have been affected by cancer, our family definitely has,” she said. 

The Mystery Box Rally starts on Saturday and finishes on Wednesday. To donate to the Barnes’s cause, visit their online fundraising page at 2018.mystery-box.com.au/chilli-bin-bandits.