Cyclists use pedal power to drive cause
HAVING a reason to ride gives you the mental strength to do anything.
That’s what a group of local businessmen, all over 50, will be telling themselves when they endure an 820km bike ride from Townsville to Cloncurry to raise money for charity.
The David Morris Reason to Ride is fundraising to give regional and remote communities the same access to medical services as city people.
Townsville dermatologist Robert Miller and his wife Gillian Gilmore founded the David Morris Reason to Ride after meeting Professor Morris and realising they had a shared passion.
“Robert and I believe it’s really important to receive cutting- edge medical intervention that’s available no matter where you live,” Ms Gilmore said.
The pair have roped in other local doctors and business people, as well as Sunrise and Central Rotary clubs, to help fundraise, organise and complete the ride.
Rotarian and cyclist Stephen Heilbronn said that while he and the other riders had been training about three times a week, he expected it to be tough.
“A lot of it is a mind set. Anyone can do it if you want to,” he said.
“The biggest gift we can give to someone is positive intervention and improved quality of life and that’s what this man does.”
The ride leaves next Monday and will arrive in time for the Cloncurry Merry Muster Festival.