kids’ cause wheely motivating

A Rockingham man has committed to cycling at least 300km in October in the Great Cycle Challenge Australia, to raise funds for the fight against children’s cancer.

Jeff Smith took on the same challenge last year and raised $823.

This contributed to over $4 million in total, which was given to the Children’s Medical Research Institute.

This year, Mr Smith said he hoped to raise even more money for the cause by cycling further and had high hopes of success.

“This is the second time I have signed up to join the Great Cycle Challenge.

“Last year was my first year and I set a goal of 200km to ride and to raise $300 and I finished up riding 379km and raising $823,” he said. “This year I have set my ride goal at 300km and to raise $500. I’ve increased both goals, firstly because my fitness has improved and because I’ve found since completing the challenge last year and being able to talk about the cause more people have taken an interest in donating.

“Being able to help raise money to help fight this terrible disease and in turn being motivated to take better care of my own health ... is my favourite thing about this event.”

Mr Smith said he had been been looking for a way to motivate himself to exercise each day and had stumbled across the challenge.

“I needed something to make sure I got out every day, so I started looking for ideas and came across the Great Cycle Challenge,” he said. “When I told people I was thinking of doing it the response was great.

“I really enjoy riding around the Rockingham beaches and setting a goal to make it from home and around quicker each time.”

Mr Smith said if people could not donate, they could share information about the cause or even sign up to ride.

“A lot more people seem to have found their love of bike riding recently, perhaps others would like to take up the challenge, it’s a great social distancing activity too,” he said.

“It really is a great cause and definitely makes me feel like I am giving something back. We are all pretty lucky to be able to get out and do things like this at the moment.”

Mr Smith’s fundraising page can be found at GreatCycleChallenge.com.au/Riders/JeffSmith3.