Pedallers power up for soup bus

THE Ballarat Scenic Cyclists group has donated hundreds of dollars to the OnTrack Foundation.

Members including president Gary Bunn handed over their cheque to volunteers at The SoupBus last week.

“We had the president’s ride last year at Moorabool Reservoir, all the members turned up, and paid $10 each towards a cause,” Mr Bunn said.

“We raised $380, and we voted to support the organisation because it’s a local charity, there’s no overheads, and the money goes directly to the cause.

“We know it’s going to be put to good use.”

OnTrack Foundation volunteer Lorraine Gittings, who is The SoupBus’ food coordinator, said the donation has been put straight into the organisation’s education fund, which aims to help vulnerable young people.

“Support like this makes a difference to how many students we can give a full scholarship to each year,” she said.

“It roughly costs us $60,000 to put a student through six years of secondary school, we’ve funded 14 young people, and every one of them has completed their VCE with a score no lower than 88.

“This is all about changing the culture of three generations on Centrelink, so these kids have opportunities… and we know if they feel safe and supported, they learn.

“People in Ballarat are very generous of they know where their money is going to go, and the difference it will make for future generations.”

Ms Gittings said the SoupBus is currently in need of donations of one-litre cartons of long-life milk, and three-minute noodles, which their clients can take away.

“We don’t need money for food, because that is donated by the community,” she said.