WAFLW player shaving head, driving in Shitbox Rally for Cancer

If you need greater evidence of the inspirational things Swan Districts footballers do, then look no further than WAFLW squad member Meg Clayton who is about to embark on the Shit Box Rally in their family's Team Thunderbox along with preparing to shave her head for the Cancer Council.

Clayton has joined the Swan Districts Football Club's WAFLW program in 2023 but life is much bigger than football. What she is doing with sister Siobhan should be seen for the inspirational act that it is as they do what they can to raise money for the Cancer Council.

The Shit Box Rally begins this Friday May 12 where cars will be travelling from Newcastle to Townsville via Betoota so both Meg and Siobhan have flown to Sydney, made the trek to Newcastle and are now preparing to get underway on their journey.

What the Shit Box Rally is all about is much more than a race. It gets the name from the cars driven having to be worth $1500 or less. Rather than being considered a challenge, it's about achieving the unthinkable in those vehicles on some of Australia's most formidable roads all in the name of charity.

The car that Meg and Siobhan will be driving is a Toyota Avalon under the family's Team Thunderbox banner and they have done a wonderful job decorating it to make sure it won't be missed on the roads from Newcastle to Townville.

For Meg, it's all about doing it for the greater cause of raising money for the Cancer Council.

"For seven days, 250 teams from all across Australia come together to drive cars worth up to $1500 from Newcastle to Townsville via Betoota on some of Australia’s most formidable roads," she said.

"Each year the route changes but it allows us to visit small, remote communities and raising awareness as well as providing income for local catering, fuel and accommodation businesses.

"The ride through Australian outback, dirt roads is not a comfortable one in these ‘Sh!tbox’ cars but cancer is not a comfortable ride either!"

Meg and Siobhan are proud to be part of Team Thunderbox and continuing the family tradition of participating in the Shitbox Rally.

The patchwork quilt them of the design of the car they will be driving is something to behold, but in the big picture being part of the rally for such a worthy cause is something they are rightfully proud of.

"Team Thunderbox has been participating in Shitbox rallies for 12 years with cars of all ages and this year we will be driving a Toyota Avalon that is coated in fabric to replicate a patchwork quilt. Most of the cars are decorated and teams often dress up all week to match their theme," Meg said.

"The rally was started by James Freeman who lost both his parents to cancer within 12 months of one another. Since then it has grown to be the largest independent fundraiser for Cancer Council Australia.

"Since 2009 Box Rallies have contributed ~$37.5 million to research grants for the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). We are so proud to be a small part of making a difference to those fighting this horrible disease."

Not only is Meg taking part in the Shitbox Rally, but she's also putting herself out there and is preparing to lose her flowing brunette locks to raise further money for charity.

As you can imagine, years' worth of growing and looking after your hair means you become quite attached to it and Meg is no different. She's not quite sure how she'll feel once it's all gone, but it's all for the greater good.

"I am excited and nervous about the shave. My hair isn’t something I obsess over but it is still a very big adjustment to be going from 25 inches to nearly nothing," Meg said.

"For so many young people hair is a way of expression so I’m looking forward to finding other ways to express myself and my personality. I think day to day life without hair is going to be so much easier!

"With thick curly hair it takes a long time to wash and dry and with footy training three to four times a week, that’s a lot of shampoo and conditioner to no longer have to use. As the day draws closer I find myself getting sentimental about my hair and the anxiety grows."

Obviously you don't take part in the Shitbox Rally or shave your head to raise money in the support of fighting cancer without having a passion of helping so many people fight, and overcome the disease and hopefully help in the research of eradicating it altogether.

That is something that means a lot to the Clayton girls and they deserve to be proud of the part they are playing.

"Our family has been part of Shitbox Rally for 12 years now," Meg added.

"It’s more than just the rally, it’s the people you meet along the way and the connections you build with people who are from parts of the country you didn’t even know existed.

"It’s humbling to make a difference to the research that missing out on government funding but it is also hard work so we appreciate any and all of the support that we get from our friends, family and businesses.

"Our fundraising avenues vary from the classic Cadbury chocolates sales, wine drives, corporate sponsorships and this year, my drastic haircut."

As for the football side of things for Meg in 2023, she has enjoyed the move to join Swan Districts and is still finding her feet, but as someone new to the game she's enjoying the challenge and the support the club has given her fundraising endeavours.

"Being at Swans this year has been the refreshing change I needed for my footy. The girls are amazing and push me to be better and I can’t speak highly enough about the culture that we have," Meg said.

"This is only my third year of playing footy, before which I didn’t even know the rules but arriving at SDFC I was welcomed immediately and can see a huge improvement on my skills already.

"It’s been tough to juggle training with working away and fundraising for Shitbox but the support I’ve received from the coaching staff has been second to none. I am already so fired up to come back next year!"

Check out more about Team Thunderbox here and please donate if you can: https://autumn2023.shitboxrally.com.au/thunderbox