Noosa cyclist Dave Clarke this week completed the 1200kms for Kids charity ride, raising money for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation.
He rolled into Sydney late on Tuesday afternoon after setting out with a dozen other cyclists from Brisbane last Wednesday morning.
The event has raised almost $100,000 this year, and it is still not too late to donate via 1200kmsforkids.com.
Dave said one special moment on the ride was the cycling group being met in Newcastle on the penultimate leg, by one of the children whose life had been saved many years ago by medical intervention, funded by the ride.
Olivia Wood, now 23, tearfully addressed the group and told them how much their efforts had meant to her, and praised their ongoing fundraising efforts.
“I now consider this group to be not just a fundraising group but to be family,” Olivia said at the welcome dinner.
The ride was established in 2006 by two friends including Sunshine Coast cyclist Gary Richardson, and has raised well over a million dollars for children’s hospitals over the years.
This year, the cyclists on the long ride from Brisbane to Sydney faced many challenges.
“We rode through torrential rain in Guyra in the NSW highlands to the point that some of the group experienced hypothermia,” Dave said.
“Then the segment coming down the great dividing range a few days later in scorching sunshine saw many riders heat fatigued and sunburnt.
“Despite some falls, minor injuries and one unfortunate withdrawal, most of the cyclists completed the gruelling ride on the seventh day.”
Although at this stage Dave has not committed to repeating the cycle effort next year, he said he may well continue the sport.
“I bought the bike two weeks before the event with the intention of selling it afterwards but the camaraderie of the cycling community and the healthy enjoyment of road cycling has me tempted to keep riding,” he said.
“I think I’ll take a week or two break first however!”
