August 31, 2021
A group of mountain bike riders wheeled out of Kingaroy Showgrounds on Tuesday morning with just two targets in mind … to pedal 400km over the next five days, and raise more than $24,000.
If the Ride 4 Relay cyclists hit that dollar figure it will mean the total amount raised for Cancer Council Queensland by the unique Relay For Life event will top $100,000.
This is the fifth year the South Burnett Mountain Bike Club’s Ride 4 Relay has been held.
Organiser Jason Wyeth said 18 riders were taking part in this year’s ride and $14,300 had already been raised towards the target.
The riders have come from across the South Burnett as well as Millmerran, Toowoomba and Brisbane.
There are a few newbies this year but many of the riders have taken part in previous Rides 4 Relay.
Jason said the route for this year’s event was sticking as closely as possible to the boundaries of the South Burnett Regional Council area (except for a quick diversion into the edge of Gympie council area) just in case of any more snap COVID lockdowns.
“Every rider taking part has a story to tell about cancer,” Jason said. “Either personally or in their family.”
The cyclists rode off at 7:30am, heading towards their first night stopover at Proston Showgrounds.
Other nights would be spent at Wondai Showgrounds, the Barambah Environmental Education Centre in Wrattens Forest and Wooroolin Hall.
Along the way they will visit Boat Mountain, near Murgon, and Goomeri.
Only one section – less than a kilometre – will be on a main road; all the rest of the ride will be on back roads (and there will be lots of hills!).
The riders will have two support vehicles travelling with them, loaned by Bill Hull Car Centre and Hansens Kitchens and driven by volunteers.
Community groups will be providing dinners on some nights, while the riders are self-catering their lunches and breakfasts.
Jason emphasised it was a social ride and not a race.
“We look after each other,” he said.
They aim to get back to the Kingaroy Showgrounds by lunchtime on Saturday after a leisurely 50km last-leg ride from Wooroolin.
Jason said he had been especially inspired to organise this year’s ride by a post he saw on social media by Brisbane paediatric oncologist Dr Tim Hassall who had written that “too many times I’ve had to tell a parent that there’s nothing more I can do”.
“One day, maybe not in our lifetimes, doctors won’t have to make that phone call,” Jason said.
Footnote: This year’s Relay For Life main event will be held at Kingaroy Showgrounds on October 9 from noon-8:00pm.
- External link: Donate To The Ride 4 Relay Fundraiser
