Cyclists pedalling a powerful message for children in need this Sunday
More than 10,000 cyclists will pedal around Melbourne this Sunday (11 October) in the 23rd Around the Bay – Ride for a child in need, many of them helping to raise $1.2 million for The Smith Family.
As the event’s charity partner for 22 years, The Smith Family encourages all riders to ‘ride for a reason’ and get sponsored to raise much-needed funds to support the education of disadvantaged children in Australia.
The event, which is run by Bicycle Network, allows riders to choose various distances around Port Phillip Bay – from 20km to the 250km loop around the bay – all within a single day on Sunday, October 11.
A team of Melburnians, the Pirates Sporting Club, will make history by not only riding 210km on Melbourne Bike Share ‘blue’ bikes, but also skipping the traditional ferry ride, and rowing 12km from Queenscliff to Sorrento in surf boats.
Pirates Team Captain Jonathan Stone said the team aimed for something “bigger, better and more ridiculous” in this year’s event, to attract all-important funds for The Smith Family.
“Our goal with Project 222 is to cover 222km on 11 October, and raise over $120,000 to help The Smith Family support the education of 222 disadvantaged children in Australia,” Mr Stone said.
The Smith Family’s Victoria General Manager Anton Leschen said there was still a long way to go to reach the charity’s fundraising target of $1.2 million.
“We thank every rider for taking that extra step to get sponsored and using their trip around the bay to raise funds for children in need,” Mr Leschen said.
“One in 10 children are living in disadvantage1 in Australia today and this limits their choices, opportunities and outcomes in life.
“If we can raise $1.2 million this year, we can provide before and after school education support for 2,100 disadvantaged children for one whole year.
“I encourage everyone to go online and sponsor an individual rider or team, to make sure we can give all those children a better future.”
As registration fees for Around the Bay – Ride for a child in need go directly to Bicycle Network to improve road conditions for all riders, The Smith Family only benefits when participants decide to fundraise as well as ride. For further information or to sponsor a rider, please visit aroundthebayfundraising.com.au
1Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013). Labour force, Australia: Labour force status and other characteristics of families, June 2012