Over 220 cyclists and support crew pedaled into the local area last week as part of the annual Tour de Cure charity ride.
Now in its tenth year, the ride retraced the inaugural route from Brisbane to Sydney, travelling 1,518km over 10 days and raising more than $2 million to help fund Australian cancer research.
The cyclists received a noisy welcome at Bulahdelah Central and Tea Gardens Primary Schools where the riders delivered a ‘BE FIT, BE HEALTHY, BE HAPPY’ presentation aimed at encouraging cancer prevention behaviours.
Students at each school decorated a helmet which they presented to the cyclists to be displayed in a Tour-inspired art exhibition at Tour de Cure functions later in the year.
The cyclists attended a community dinner at Hawks Nest Golf Club on Friday night where the Tour de Cure team presented a cheque for $10,000 to the Cancer Council.
This donation will go towards funding a cancer diary designed to help maintain the schedule of appointments and expenses for patients and carers dealing with cancer diagnoses.
Taking part in this year’s ride, former ‘Oarsome Foursome’ triple Olympic Gold Medallist Drew Ginn, said visiting the area was a highlight.
“The beach is awesome, it’s a sensational vista which we have been blessed to stop off at on our ride to cure cancer,” Drew told News Of The Area.
“My Mum passed away from cancer when I was 12 and the ride has been something that I have wanted to do for a long time to make a difference,” Drew Ginn said.
Tea Gardens Primary School student Roxy McAliece attended the breakfast in Hawks Nest on Saturday morning proudly holding a sign supporting the cyclists.
“My friends and I made the sign at school to welcome the riders,” Roxy said.
“It’s been good meeting some of them and they are doing a really good job for cancer.”
Bulahdelah Year 6 student Olivia Fitzgerald won the BCS Tour de Cure Poster Competition and School Captains presented cyclists with a donation on behalf of the SRC for cancer research.
Tour de Cure has raised over $23 million and has funded 242 cancer research, support and prevention projects since it began in 2007.
By Daniel SAHYOUN