Last week’s Great Strides Walkathon and Great Escapes Car Rally have raised $410,000 for cystic fibrosis research and support.

More than 165 walkers took part in the walkathon, which started at IGA and followed pathways along Port Douglas Road and Davidson Street to the junction with Macrossan Street, where they met up with 48 rally cars and 150 drivers and navigators.

The consequent parade down Macrossan Street provided a sea of red and cacophony of cheer, while the car rally featured many a wacky car horn blaring out to spectators after a 3800km, 10-day journey from Tamworth in country NSW.

Kylie Samson of LJ Hooker Port Douglas, who co-organised the walkathon, said Douglas region walkers could be proud to be a part of a well-supported charity event, raising much-needed funds for Cystic Fibrosis research and support.

“We’re still counting (the funds raised), however it will be over $11,000 raised from the walkathon for Cystic Fibrosis Queensland,” she said.

A Cystic Fibrosis Australia spokesman said the car rally raised its biggest total in the event’s 10-year-old history - $401,000 – and $3.5 million in total since 2002.

Meanwhile, two women who were involved in a car roll-over towards the end of the race due to a tyre blow-out are out of hospital.

Car number 39, the Camel car, rolled near Townsville last Tuesday, with two locals notifying emergency services when they heard calls for help on UHF radio and later took the ladies’ family members into their home.