Last week, hundreds of cyclists pedalled through Logan for the Downer Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge.
From St Lucia to Southport, the 100-kilometre route was no walk (or ride) in the park, and it wasn’t made easier by some serious road rash I earned early in the day.
If it wasn’t for the incredible Andy and an emergency loan bike from The Bike Shop in Shailer Park, I don’t think I would have crossed that finish line.
While I’m proud to have seen the ride through, I can’t say that was my greatest achievement.
Because this wasn’t just a bike ride.
At last check, $6,739 is where I’ve ended up in the fundraising stakes for Stronger for Longer – a group that supports promising prostate cancer research.
Researchers all over Queensland are working hard to stop 3,500 Aussie blokes dying from this disease every year.
Many of the cyclists I rode beside last weekend were personally affected by prostate cancer.
Andrew Bills is one of them.
He is Chair of Stronger for Longer and a prostate cancer survivor.
Andrew is passionate about research that provides men with options regarding their treatment and the work QUT is doing in this space.
Funds raised will drastically improve precision treatment options, outcomes and quality of life for men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
A worthy cause if I’ve ever heard of one.
If you’re over 50 or have a family history of prostate cancer, the medical advice is to make sure we chat to our GP about risks and getting tested.
The Brisbane to Gold Coast Cycle Challenge has now raised more than $95,000.
Thanks to everyone who chipped in this year.
While I’m still pretty sore, I’m already thinking about next year’s ride.
That’s because I’d love to see our M1, Busway and Veloway upgrades worked into future ride routes.
Now that we can ride further south than ever before on the Veloway, it made a great training ground for me in the lead up to B2GC.
And with the aim of extending the V1 all the way down to Paradise Road in the next few years, we’ve got the opportunity to put Logan on the map for active infrastructure and major community cycling events.
