RIDING from Warrnambool to Ballarat is the latest challenge for a group of Victorian cyclists whose efforts are raising money for children’s cancer.
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Aged between 62 and 83, the cyclists have pedalled thousands of kilometres through Queensland, New South Wales, Vietnam and Europe over the past 15 years.
Now Ruth Edelsten, Lesley McKibbin, Barry Rayner, Max Greenhall, Janice Anderson, David Bidmade, Ray Pant and Valerie and Ian Hawkins have chosen the Warrnambool to Ballarat course for their second year of fund-raising for Cancer in Kids at Royal Children’s Hospital (CIKA).
Support van driver Shirleigh Quarrell said yesterday the group was on track to reach Ballarat by Friday after starting in Warrnambool on Saturday morning and passing through Peterborough, Timboon, Cobden and Camperdown over the weekend.
“We’re having a morning tea stop at Lake Purrumbete caravan park and then through to Colac,” Ms Quarrell said.
“We’re having a rest day tomorrow (Tuesday) and there’ll be tea for us tonight, a barbecue. We’ll have a meet and greet with the Lions club tomorrow afternoon.”
Ms Quarrell, who lost a daughter to cancer, said the cause was close to the cyclists’ hearts.
After years of participating in the Great Victorian Bike Ride, the group made the decision last year to run a fund-raiser for CIKA and rode from Robe to Bendigo.
“We decided to do a bike ride last year and we decided we would do it for a cause,” Ms Quarrell said.
“Last year we raised about $3200.”
The group’s south-west connection dates back to childhood, with some members completing primary and secondary school in Allansford, Ballangeich and Warrnambool.
