Wheel deal for pedal with a cause
ORGANISERS hope a new cycling event circling the Bellarine Peninsula will fill a gap left by departure of the popular Amy’s Ride.
Rotary’s Ride The Bellarine will launch on April 19 with up to 500 riders, raising money for worldwide eradication of polio.
Circuits of 105km and 60km will leave from Geelong’s Eastern Gardens: the long ride taking in Drysdale, Portarlington, St Leonards, Point Lonsdale, Barwon Heads and Connewarre and the shorter version running through Drysdale, Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads.
“We are very positive about it, this a first for our Rotary district to have such a prominent event around our polio campaign,” event secretary Tony Stewart said.
“We’ve got 60 clubs throughout the Western District in a sense supporting this.
“We saw the gap. We certainly have some close competition with other events and other charitable good causes but nothing showcasing the Bellarine Peninsula.
“We just need to dial up a good day for weather and we’re in business.”
Mr Stewart estimated the event could raise up to $15,000 for End Polio Now.
“And the best news about this is for every dollar Rotary raises will be matched by $2 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, so if we get $15,000 out of here we’ve effectively raised US $45,000,” Mr Stewart said.
The ride is the brainchild of Ocean Grove’s John Paton, one of many Geelong region cyclists smarting from loss of Amy’s Ride to Ballarat in 2013.
Up to 2000 people regularly participated in the event, which promoted safe and responsible road use while commemorating the life of cyclist Amy Gillett, who was hit and killed by a car while training with the Australian team in Germany in 2005.
Mr Paton is now campaign chairman and joined Bikesafe chairman Barton van Laar and Rotarian and Geelong’s first popularly elected mayor Keith Fagg for a symbolic launch.
Ride The Bellarine participants will pay $75 for the long ride and $55 for the short ride.
People can visit ridethebellarine.com to find more details.
“And the best news about this is for every dollar Rotary raises will be matched by $2 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, so if we get $15,000 out of here we’ve effectively raised US $45,000.” EVENT SECRETARY TONY STEWART