A SWEET and bright peloton of cyclists will hit the road for cancer research again in 2023.<\/p>\n
Local charity cycling team, Jimmy\u2019s Allsorts, will ride from Mildura to Port Fairy next year, with a goal to raise $40,000 for the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute along the way.<\/p>\n
In liquorice allsorts-themed uniforms with green accents, the group of about 20 riders will be hard to miss, led by Jimmy himself, Jim Waight.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce again, the team are hitting the road in the 2023 Murray to Moyne Cycling Relay, that takes place on the 1st and 2nd of April, riding 520 kilometres in just over 24 hours,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur aim is to sponsor a PhD research scholarship at the institute. This is an opportunity for our team to turn a negative situation into something positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a chance to make a real difference in cancer research. But the ride\u2019s not only about the fundraising, it\u2019s about the camaraderie, the common purpose, and doing something that\u2019s worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Waight said the support of local people has amazed him, including businesses which have backed the cause.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat is a strong community; a community that tries to make a difference, and the team\u2019s 2023 principal sponsor is GJ Gardner Homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to Rob, Wayne and the team at GJ Gardner Ballarat for backing us to fight cancer on two wheels and to make a real difference in cancer research,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFulton Hogan are supporting us for three days, giving us a bus, a driver, a support vehicle and a team car, which will be very helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Waight has a personal history with the disease, having been diagnosed with a blood cancer, non-Hodgkin\u2019s follicular lymphoma, in 2019.<\/p>\n
His chemotherapy and immunotherapy took two years, but he finished his treatments in May of this year and receives ongoing support from his specialists.<\/p>\n
He decided to take action and raise money for research when a young person in his life began receiving treatment for a brain tumour.<\/p>\n
Next year will mark the third Jimmy\u2019s Allsorts ride, with an official launch on World Cancer Day in February, and the team of riders have generated $125,000 dollars for FECRI so far.<\/p>\n