Corporate teams are encouraged to enter as many riders as they can to complete the greatest number of laps and raise the most funds. Each rider is asked to fundraise a minimum of $1,000 in support of Children’s Cancer Institute.
The Schools Challenge is for high school students from years 10 and 11, and runs in parallel to the main ride, riding for 5 hours. Students are not charged a registration fee but are encouraged to fundraise $500 per student – kids raising money for kids!
The challenge, now in its 6th year, is open to cyclists of all skill levels wanting to raise money for childhood cancer research. The first ride, in 2014, raised $191,204. Last year the result was an amazing $357,000. This year we’re aiming even higher, hoping to raise a massive $394,000 to support our research.
Each year a team from Children’s Cancer Institute takes on the challenge. This year the team includes six riders with varying roles in the organisation. I asked them to explain briefly what their roles are, and what motivates them to ride.
Charles de Bock
“I’m a new research Team Leader, with plans to establish a group focusing on blood cancers. Specifically, we’ll be investigating how different mutations drive disease and how to exploit this therapeutically.
My reasons for participating? So many people have generously supported cancer research, and I’ve benefited from this by being able to access state-of-the-art equipment and receive the all-important seed funds to carry out research that would otherwise not have been possible. I thought it’s about time I also pay it forward, raise awareness and help raise much-needed funds for fundamental research.”
Helen Brennan
“I’m newly minted Legal Counsel at Children’s Cancer Institute. My role includes drafting and reviewing all our contracts, including research and grant agreements, together with research integrity and general legal advice.
Endure for a Cure is another way I can help support children’s cancer research AND it has pushed me to improve my bike fitness, so a win/win!”
Andrew Stone
“As Partnerships Manager, my role involves developing and maintaining our diverse research collaborations and preparing grant proposals and business cases. I also build relationships with industry, government entities and funding agencies, and help researchers to commercialise their work.
The reason I signed up to Endure is quite simple. I joined the Institute just over 6 months ago and I have been blown away by the standard of research, the devotion and passion of the researchers, and the drive and ambition of the entire Children’s Cancer Institute family. I want to do my bit to keep the wheels turning!! (cycling joke intended!!)”
Mark Bizeray
“After 7 years as Chief Financial Officer, I’ve transitioned roles to now be the Business Transformation Manager, working on coordinating a review of the Institute to ensure we have the best operating conditions in place to deliver on our strategy.
I’m not a cyclist, I don’t even particularly enjoy cycling. Despite this, I’ve participated in all but one of the Endure for a Cure rides, because I know that any discomfort I feel on the day is absolutely nothing compared to that of the kids suffering from cancer, and the pain their families are going through.
So I stop whining about how unfit I am, and how I can never keep up with the peloton, and I ride (in the slow lane) for as long as I can to support this incredible cause.”
If you’re up for the challenge, why not register and join in? Alternately, you can cheer from the sidelines by sponsoring the Children’s Cancer Institute team.
Top image: The Children’s Cancer Institute team: (left to right) Mark Bizeray, Charles de Bock, Amanda Philp, Peter Wejbora, Helen Brennan and Andrew Stone
