After a wildly successful 2011 event, Australia’s The Ride to Conquer Cancer will return for a second time this year bigger than ever.
A staggering AU$4.7m was generated by around 1,300 people for the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in last year’s inaugural Brisbane ride. That success has meant a further three have been added in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, each raising funds for a different cause.
Its popularity can be perhaps explained by the challenge involved; a two day ride travelling in the region of 200km through, in the case of the Brisbane event, the back roads of Queensland, with an overnight stop at the 100km mark. If it sounds tough, that’s the whole point and while they are held on open roads, every effort is made to avoid busy traffic routes as much as possible. Designed for cyclists of all abilities, medical crews and mechanical support are never far behind.
This year’s calendar kicks off with the Brisbane ride on the weekend of 18-19 August, with further events on 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28 October in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne respectively. You can enter as an individual or team, costs $50 each, with each participant committed to raising at least $2,500.
"The Ride to Conquer Cancer is more than a fundraising event, it’s an epic challenge that brings people from all walks of life together for a worthwhile cause,” Conquer Cancer’s Michelle Cook told BikeRadar. “With one in two Australians developing cancer in their lifetime, the Ride has become a powerful call to action for cancer patients, survivors and their supporters.”
For more information, visit the event website.
