'It was a no-brainer,” says Tauranga aluminium fabricator Glenn Wilson about the decision to join the annual Variety Bash charity rally next month.

'We had so much fun. It was great to see all the kids' smiles and to really make a difference,” says Glenn, who received his introduction to Variety's fundraising rallying at last September's South Island mini bash.

New Variety Bash team mates Hori Lack and Tauranga's Glenn Wilson get into the fun spirit on the South Island mini bash.

Together with Opotiki mate Hori Lack he collected an aging ex-rental car in Christchurch, which they drove to Hokitika and Greymouth, then back on a three-day trip stopping at communities along the way to shake donation buckets, hand out cheques and get stuck into hands-on projects.

'We have a working bee project when we get to Tauranga so it will be great to help make a difference here,” says Glenn, who'll be joined by three friends in the Blues Brothers team in their old Ford stretch limousine which has been repainted as an NYPD police car.

The team's fundraising quest is underlined with signwriting on the car clarifying the NYPD stands for ‘Need Your Precious Donation'.

'We've got flashing flights and a siren under the bonnet. It really looks the part,” says Glenn, who with team mates will dress up in NYPD police shirts, hats, board shorts and jandals.

The Blues Brothers, along with fellow Tauranga teams Every Little Boys Dream and Kidicorp (formerly `The 8^th Tribe'), will begin the Variety Bash at New Plymouth on March 6.

The teams will cover about 1000km on the 25^th anniversary bash, wending their way around the North Island, through Wellington and Tauranga, before finishing in Warkworth eight days later.

Glenn says the Tauranga teams support each other, but still have a little cheeky rivalry 'to make it fun”.

Among the other teams is Glenn's 19-year-old son Mark, who is part of the Every Little Boys Dream team.

Mark, who encouraged his father to get involved after helping Variety behind the scenes organising the rallies, knows the difference Variety can make after receiving help about four years ago towards the costs of Australian training trips as a Paralympic table tennis player.

Mark has cerebral palsy.

Glenn says the team couldn't have done it without support from sponsors. He's now looking forward to showing them how they've helped, when the team arrives in Tauranga on March 12.

Variety supports disadvantaged children with grants and equipment. See www.variety.org.nz