THE fund-raising Red Sky Ride – 22 riders and nine volunteers working as a backup crew – spent a rest day in Bridgetown last week.
All funds raised by the eight-day 800-kilometre ride will be used by cancer support group, SolarisCare Foundation.
The foundation was set up in Sep-tember 2001 by Dr David Joske, who heads Sir Charles Gairdner Hosp-ital’s haematology department. The foundation was started to provide supportive care to all people with cancer, their families and carers in WA.
One of the ride organisers Debbie Young said: “This is our second time to Bridgetown and we get so very spoilt we love coming here”.
Co-founder and organiser Kim Gilbert said the current total had already beaten last year’s excellent $150,000. “We have already collected donations of $267,250 and we still have three days to go,” he said.
“The ride takes us from Perth to York, Narrogin, Kojonup then Bridgetown, where we stay for a one-day rest break, then on to Bunbury, Mandurah and back to Perth on Sunday.”
The riders were far from your average “super fit” bunch seen riding around town at speed. They have vast differences in riding experience, two this year have been on a bike for less than 12 months. Ages range from 26 to 58.
The event began in Forrest Chase on Sunday, March 1, and former international cricketer Justin Langer rode the first leg to York.
“The sense of riding for a purpose brings everyone together,” Ms Young said.“The stronger, fitter riders have spent their precious training hours away from their normal groups and on the long, tough hill sections have encouraged, advised, nurtured, cajoled and on occasion physically pushed the rest of us up those hills.
“They have been by our side, literally, with words of encouragement, with clear instructions, with invaluable riding advice, with jokes, food, laughter, empathy and above all else, supporting us and helping us to believe we can make it up that bloody hill, and finish that 120 kilometres, and then so enthusiastically celebrating with us when we do.
“We all know that a leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not, and these guys are our leaders on the bike. Not once do we hear or even remotely sense any indication that when riding with us they are burning up more energy than when they sleep, no hint that the last time they rode this slowly they had trainer wheels on and never, ever a show of impatience at our significantly lower fitness and skill levels. The new riders, weaker riders and riders that have seen many a year pass since undertaking such a demanding training schedule are amazing as well. They are discovering that toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles.
“There is a lot of suffering with 4.45am get-ups five days a week, people pushing their bodies through extreme efforts to keep up with the group and conquer yet another hill – dread, poor sleep and nerves. The disappointment of a poor and yet incomplete day on the bike, and the stress of combining work and riding, poor sleep, family commitments and appeasing close friends who no longer see us,” she said.
“Three hundred people are diagnosed with cancer per day and, if caught early, sixty per cent of cancer deaths can be prevented, so our goal is to raise awareness of how cancer can be cured,” said Ms Young, who is managing director of injury risk management firm Aurenda.
“Our inaugural ride in 2008, helped provide 400 treatments per month to people with cancer in Western Australia.
“This year’s money will be used to support a post-doctoral fellowship to research ways to improve cancer-related symptoms such as pain and fatigue, reduction in treatment side-effects such as nausea and anxiety and improved overall quality of life,” Ms Young said.
“Our 22 dedicated cyclists are testing their physical and mental endurance over 800 kilometres in eight days.”