Two teams from Griffith took part in the Cystic Fibrosis Great Escape rally and both were in the top four fundraisers for the event.

Geoff and Troy Campbell were fourth overall and raised $11,045 while Koala Jones raised $16,431 and was the second-highest fundraiser.

“The people in Griffith are really very generous,” Koala said. “The fact we managed to raise this much is a credit to the community.”

The 10-day, 5000 kilometre rally saw teams from around Australia drive from Kiama to Byron Bay “the hard way”.

“We went via the back of Bourke,” Koala said.

The teams assembled in Kiama on the south coast and drove to Canowindra, Trundle and Albert before cutting west to Cobar. They then headed to Gulargambone, up to Lightning Ridge, and then east through Goondiwindi, Casino and Cherrabar on the Queensland border before arriving in Byron Bay 10 days later.

Koala managed his fundraising feat thanks to help from the Coro Club and Gannons Butchery along with fundraising activities like his “mystery raffle” which raised $3000.

“There were 38 prizes and each of them was numbered,” Koala explained.

“We pulled a number out and a ticket out and that’s what they won.”

The prizes included electrical small goods like blenders and frying pans which Koala had collected over the year.

“They were prizes I had won in the Friday raffle and I just put them aside,” Koala said. “People would ask what I was doing and they’d donated what they won as well.

“About 80 per cent of the money that’s been raised has come from the Coro Club and their patrons.”

This year was the sixth time Koala had taken part in the rally

“The first time there were about 40 or 50 cars of people I’d never met before, but now it's like a big family and I really look forward to seeing them once a year,” he said.

“I've always been up in the top 10 fundraising-wise and I'm always aiming to get the highest.

“It's not only me though, I've talked to a lot of people who raise money in this town and the town itself is just great for charities and helping people out.”

Cystic fibrosis (CF) primarily affects the lungs and digestive system because of a malfunction in the system responsible for producing saliva, sweat, tears and mucus. Management and treatment is lifelong. A person with CF may consume up to 40 capsules daily to help digest food and may need up to three hours of airway clearance each day.