Cycling fundraiser gets ready to roll

LAST Sunday the Velorats launched this year’s Murray to Moyne cycle relay campaign with the aim of raising funds for Grampians Health’s child and adolescent mental health services unit.

The team will cycle 520 kilometres for the initiative beginning in Echuca on Saturday 6 April and arriving in Port Fairy on Sunday 7 April.

Ross Huntington, captain of the Velorats, has been part of the relay for 19 years and in his time the group has raised more than $120,000 for the Leukemia Foundation.

Last year the group raised $30,000 for the Ballarat Health Services Foundation which allowed them to renovate the BRICC gym for cancer patients.

“I love the camaraderie out there on the road, during both our training and over the event weekend,” said Mr Hunington.

“It’s a wonderful way to keep fit both physically and mentally.”

Mr Hunington said this year’s cause meant a lot to the team members.

“Most of us in the team are dads, and the importance of this service really resonated with us,” he said.

Lindsay Florence, chair of the Ballarat Health Services Foundation, thanked the Velorats for their support.

“On behalf of the Foundation, I’d like to extend my thanks to the team for their commitment to our local public health service, and I would encourage everyone to get behind their 2024 efforts to support the rejuvenation of the Grampians Health Child and Adolescent mental health service,” he said.

To make a donation visit velorats-murray2moyne-2024.raiselysite.com.