Two cavalcades will cruise to Campbell Town this Sunday as the Classic Ford Club hosts an MS Rev-A-Thon in support of Hobart couple Gemma and Ricky Goldsmith.
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Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis several years ago, Mrs Goldsmith is pursuing a treatment called haematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which removes and then implants stem cells into the body.
The treatment is not available in Australia, leaving the couple to face a hefty travel and expenses bill.
Classic Ford Club president Richard Smith said while the club had held similar events in the past for charities such as Give Me For Kids, Sunday’s cruise would be the first time it had held a fundraiser for one of its own members.
“Gemma's been accepted in Mexico for stem cell treatment which has proven 95 per cent positive results, however it’s going to cost them $80,000 to go over so it’s a pretty expensive thing for them to come up with,” Mr Smith said.
“It doesn’t cure the MS but it does stop it in its tracks and it doesn't go any further, and people have got better from it, people have walked again after this and got their sight back so there's a lot of hope there for Gemma.
“Obviously they're going to go (to Mexico) regardless but we're just trying to raise a little bit of money for them to try and lighten the load a little bit.”
Mr Smith said any support from the public would be a massive thing for the couple.
“She was diagnosed when she was 30 with MS and I believe she’s in her mid-30s now so if they can get it stopped it'd be brilliant.
“Any help we can give these guys would be muchly appreciated, they're really nice people, I've known them for nine years and they're fantastic people.”
The Rev-A-Thon will leave from the Brighton Bakery at 8.30am on Sunday, with the Northern cruise to leave from the Perth roadhouse at 9.15am.
All vehicles will then assemble at the Campbell Town oval, where jumping castles, sausage sizzles and a trophy presentation will take place.
Entry in the cruise is by a $10 donation.
For more information visit the MS Rev-A-Thon Facebook page.