{"id":97630,"date":"2015-03-04T02:32:23","date_gmt":"2015-03-03T16:32:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=97630"},"modified":"2020-11-20T12:45:24","modified_gmt":"2020-11-20T02:45:24","slug":"andrew-conquers-new-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/03\/04\/andrew-conquers-new-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Andrew Conquers New Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Andrew Holden with his battery collection point outside the Goomeri BGA AgriServices store<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 4, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andrew Holden hadn’t been on a pushbike for about 20 years when he decided back in January that he’d like to tackle a 200km charity cycle ride this year.<\/p>\n

He also decided to quit smoking …<\/p>\n

The well-known Goomeri resident – he’s the store manager at the local BGA AgriServices branch – turns 40 this month.<\/p>\n

He admits he was looking for something to “change his life”, as well as do some good.<\/p>\n

Andrew has signed up for the “Ride To Conquer Cancer” which will be held in August. Fortunately for Andrew it’s not a race, but he still has to traverse 200km over two days.<\/p>\n

“Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer,” Andrew said.<\/p>\n

In Andrew’s case, his wife is a cancer survivor, and he lost his grandmother and an aunty to the disease.<\/p>\n

He was also inspired by his best mate, Michael Wise – a triathlete from Dalby – who also had a close family member die of cancer recently. Michael will be accompanying Andrew on the ride.<\/p>\n

Andrew has begun training in earnest, riding every Sunday and slowly increasing his distances and average speed.<\/p>\n

And he’s also earnest about the fundraising, hoping to raise $3500 for the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, one of Australia’s leading cancer research centres.<\/p>\n

As well as inviting people to sponsor him, Andrew has also started a battery drive.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He’s collecting lead batteries – car, motorbike, boat, mower etc – for recycling. They can be dropped off at the Goomeri BGA AgriServices store.<\/p>\n

BGA AgriServices has also pledged to sponsor Andrew during a training ride which he hopes to do in May.<\/p>\n

He will start at the BGA AgriServices store in Kingaroy, stop off at the store in Murgon and then finish at his Goomeri store. He will be selling tickets along the way in a monster raffle which will be drawn that night.<\/p>\n