The epic 800 kilometre ride over eight days included Bulahdelah, Bungwahl, Nabiac, Krambach and Gloucester primary schools on the itinerary. Camp Quality’s Primary School Education Program regaled students with a puppet show covering issues of cancer, although unfortunately a viral illness among the riders themselves prevented them from meeting students at Nabiac. Further visits included Dungog, Gloucester, Gresford, Muswellbrook, Merriwa and Singleton with the finishing line at Warners Bay.

Riders included parents, specialists, former child cancer patients, and more.  A support crew provided medical, mechanical, physical support along with Camp Quality’s signature ‘fun therapy’ to motivate cyclists.

The Camp Quality ride was the second cancer awareness ride to hit this region in a week (the first was Ride for Sick Kids for Ronald McDonald houses), arriving within Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: September. Over 600 Australian children are diagnosed with cancer every year, with three dying every week. 

So another to bundle of energy towards this cause is the Great Cycle Challenge, a national fundraising event which has so far raised more than $550,000 by 7,900 participants nation-wide. It hopes to raise more than $3 million towards research by the Children’s Medical Research Institute into children’s cancer this year alone. Now in its fourth year, it has raised $6.6 million towards tests and treatment.

A month-long personal challenge, Great Cycle Challenge encourages individuals to undertake a cycling and fundraising challenge for the entire month. Participants can ride anywhere, any time throughout - at the gym, on the road or trails.

Participants will use the event’s free mobile application on GPS-enabled devices to track their daily rides throughout the month of October, with each ride beamed back to the individual’s fundraising page on completion so friends, family and colleagues can track their progress throughout the month. Participants can ride any distance, anywhere, any time as they chase their goal for the month – including on a exercise bike with friends at the gym or by getting the kids involved in weekend rides for the whole family.

The idea is simple: set a target of kilometres for the month...and pedal it down. Individuals and corporate teams can sign-up for free and start fundraising towards their challenge goal at www.greatcyclechallenge.com.au. All rides participants conduct between October 1 and 31 will contribute towards their distance challenge goal.