The event runs from April 1 to April 3.

The first day of activities gets rolling with a sunset ride from Kurri Kurri Station Hotel beginning at 5pm.

Riders are encouraged to bring lights for the two-hour dirt track event which will be followed by a Rotary-hosted function.

On Saturday, April 2, the riders will regroup to tackle the HEZ course at Kurri at 10.30am.

The event will wrap-up on Sunday, April 3, with a day on the bush bashing mountain bike course setting out from Pelaw Main public school oval. 

Riders can choose from a 60km ride from 8am, a 40km ride from 9am or 20km and 8km family rides scheduled for 10am.

The Kurri Mongrels Mountain Bike Riders will help stage the event with all proceeds raised going to assist the rescue chopper. 

Local businesses including Quarry Mining, Loxford Fabrications, Orica, Station Hotel and Rotary Club of Kurri Kurri have all signed up to support the event. 

Hunter Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service community ­liaison officer Barry Walton said the efforts from the town’s bike riding and business community had been remarkable. 

“For the second year, we are staging a great series of mountain and road bike events across Kurri,” he said. “We want to encourage both experienced and social riders to come along and enjoy the weekend, while also raising much needed funds for the service.”

In December 2015 the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service celebrated 40 years since it began as a weekend beach patrol. Today it operates as a 24-hour a day, seven days a week aeromedical service and has undertaken more than 30,000 missions and helped to save thousands of lives. 

In 2017 the Westpac Rescue Helicopter will expand to cover northern NSW to the Queensland border, making it one of the leading aeromedical services in Australia.

Entries for the Kurri Coalface Pedal Charity Ride are now online at www.rescuehelicopter.com.au.