Bundaberg Region residents are being encouraged by Mater to ‘take on the ride of your life’ in the upcoming Cycle for Cancer event.
The initiative allows people to put the pedal towards supporting improved treatments for people fighting cancer.
Returning for its second year, Cycle for Cancer will run from 5 to 11 September and is a virtual event that allows participants to challenge themselves anywhere and anyway they choose.
It’s a cause bound to hit close to home with 615 Wide Bay Burnett residents losing their lives to cancer and 1,861 people in the region diagnosed with the disease each year.
Mater Foundation Senior Manager Community Engagement Genevieve Dunn is leading from the front and will be guiding registrants through the virtual event.
“I grew up in a regional town and long before I had a driver’s licence, riding my bike was a ticket for freedom and adventure,” she said.
“I rode everywhere — school, the pool, training, the shops —you name it.”
Ms Dunn said she would start her 100 kilometres on a stationary bike while scouting out a local loop she’s comfortable riding.
“I haven’t been on a bike for years, and I’m excited to explore my neighbourhood again,” she said.
“I love the options and flexibility Cycle for Cancer offers, as it fits around everyone’s lives.”
The aim of the event is for people of all abilities and ages to test themselves to spin, sweat and clock up 100 kilometres over seven days, while fundraising to support cancer research at Mater.
Whether you clock up the kilometres on a mountain bike, exercise bike, e-bike or pro-issue road bike, Cycle for Cancer is about having fun while making a genuine difference.
Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg Executive Officer Catherine Hackney said the hospital would be pulling together a team and throwing its support behind the event.
“Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, there’s been a shift in the way we lead our lives,” she said.
“One of the upsides of this has been the rise of virtual events — such as Cycle for Cancer — that enable us in the Wide Bay Burnett region to participate alongside our colleagues and communities across the state to support cancer research at Mater.”
Registration is free and those who enter before 19 August will receive a Cycle for Cancer T-shirt and go in the draw to win a $2,500 Flight Centre voucher for their next holiday.
Ms Dunn said Cycle for Cancer was a great way to connect with friends, family, and colleagues — whether it’s packing your activewear and heading to a spin class with your colleagues after work or getting out and exploring new areas on a weekend.
“It’s a chance to give back to those fighting cancer, now and in the future,” she said.
Click here for more information about Cycle for Cancer or to register and take on the ride of your life.
