January 24, 2017
The South Burnett’s annual Relay for Life fundraising effort will have a new addition this year: a 330km “Ride For Relay”.
Ride participants plan to spend five days in early October cycling the region’s rail trails and back roads between Murgon and Camp Duckadang at the foot of the Blackbutt range.
The ride will start at Kingaroy Showgrounds, and end there five days later on Saturday October 7 at Relay For Life.
“If you have a sense of adventure, some spare time, a mountain bike and a desire to help raise money to help for the fight against cancer, then this is for you,” ride organiser Jason Wyeth said.
Jason is hoping to put together a team of 15 riders for the ride.
He already has five riders signed up, so there are only 10 places left.
But it will be a rigorous course.
The first day of the ride will leave the Kingaroy Showgrounds and travel to Murgon and back on the South Burnett Rail Trail, a distance of about 90km.
On the second day, riders will cycle 63km from Kingaroy to Yarraman along the region’s back roads.
The following day, riders will leave Yarraman and travel along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail to Camp Duckadang (53km), returning to Yarraman via the same route the following day.
And on the final day, riders will return from Yarraman via Nanango to Kingaroy along dirt back roads, a distance of around 73km.
All money raised prior to and during the ride will go directly to South Burnett Relay for Life.
“Kingaroy McDonalds have very kindly come on board as a major sponsor to assist with some of the costs associated with running this event,” Jason said.
“The South Burnett Mountain Bike Club and Kingaroy State School are also providing sponsorship by helping out with logistics and accommodation.”
Jason said he hopes to start out with a small riding group and build the event up over time so that it becomes a permanent feature of Relay for Life.
Ride participants will need to pay an entry fee of $275, but this includes a ride jersey; four nights of under cover accommodation; five days of breakfasts, lunches, dinners and ride snacks; and five days car parking at Kingaroy Showgrounds.
And they can secure a place for just $10 if they register online by February 28.
There may also be opportunities to take part in some individual legs of the ride for those who can’t spare a full five days in October.
For more information about the Ride for Relay and instructions on how to register for it, contact Jason on 0474-879-229, send him an email or message him on the South Burnett Mountain Bike club’s Facebook page.
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Potential Ride for Relay cyclists who’d like to test their mettle are also welcome to join the South Burnett Mountain Bike club’s next “come and try” ride through the Nanango Forestry on Sunday, February 19.
Riders should meet up at the barbecues in the Tipperary Flat camping grounds between Nanango BP and the Peanut Wagon at 6:45am for a 7:00am start, finishing at about 9:00am.
It’s free to take part, and a sausage sizzle and cold drinks will be available at the end of the ride for $2 each.
