They’re just 16 ordinary Maitland people who have done something quite extraordinary for kids with cancer.
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Maitland take your hats off to this crew of keen pedallers who have just ridden 1000 kilometres in 10 days to raise more than half a million dollars for Camp Quality, Newcastle.
The riders were part of a 46-strong team who cycled from Benalla in Victoria to Warners Bay, pedalling 1064 kilometres through snowy conditions, 40km/h head winds and 22 flat tyres.
The team and its support crew of 25 flew to Melbourne for the ride which took them to Albury, Wagga Wagga, Cootamundra, Cowra, Parkes, Wellington, Gulgong, Sandy Hollow, Muswellbrook and Warners Bay.
Participating for the first time was Thornton resident Paul Brownlee who entered the ride with some trepidation. He went along with mates Anthony House and Luke Redgrove who persuaded him to take part in the challenge.
“They basically convinced me I could do it,” Brownlee said. “I’ve been training since January riding more than 3000 kilometres preparing for the event,” he said. “Day four was the hardest part physically but day one was the hardest mentally,” he said.
“I was pretty nervous. We did a long gradual climb into a place called Beechworth and I looked over and saw snow capped mountains. It was freezing cold, blowing a gale and I thought what have I got myself into? Am I going to get through this?”
It was freezing cold, blowing a gale and I thought what have I got myself into
- Paul Brownlee.
Brownlee said the camaraderie between riders and their support team was outstanding with many new friendships forged.
The half a million dollars raised came via sponsorships, donations, raffles etc and from schools the group visited along the way.
He believes the amount raised was a record for the Camp Quality 1000 Kilometres for Kids campaign.
The event is a unique riding challenge organised by volunteers who put their lives aside, push their comfort zones and sign up for an challenge to help raise funds for kids living with cancer.
The Maitland participants were: Paul Brownlee, Luke Redgrove, Anthony House, Sally Rainbow, Tim Hirvf, Paul Elkin, Anthony Flemming, Simon Mead, Simon Morris, Peter Hodgson, Ian Schumacher, Sophie Curtis, Jed Doherty, Jarrett Pacheco, Jarrod Baker and Lucy Kelly.
