Herbalife riders get high fives in Adelaide

THIS year’s Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) bike ride came to an end in Adelaide last week after a six-day, 850-kilometre journey from Torquay.

The group of 28 riders crossed the finish line at Adelaide Convention Centre on February 8 at 10am after raising more than $76,000 for charity.

The initiative, which has completed its fifth year, was started by former Torquay residents Kevin Beale and Gail Bernard and raises funds for HFF – Herbalife’s global non-profit organisation that helps children receive better nutrition, nutrition education and the support of community volunteers.

The riders departed Torquay on February 3 and travelled through Mortlake, Casterton, Kingston, Meningie and Strathalbyn, before crossing the finish line in Adelaide.

One of the ride’s organisers, Kerrie Bowie, said she felt elated, exhausted and emotional after crossing the finish line, and that she was incredibly proud of the team and the money they had raised.

“It’s really quite amazing because people have come from all over Australia; a lot of them have never met each other beforehand.

“The relationship just develops very quickly – on day one – it becomes a family and it’s really exciting. No one cares about what your background is or anything like that; we’re just all there to do the bike ride, for the crew to help the riders and to increase the awareness of the Herbalife Family Foundation and our funds for it too.”

She said she was already planning to take part in the ride next year, and looks forward to raising even more for the Herbalife Family Foundation in 2019.

“I think we’ll have quite a few return for next year, which will make for some their third, fourth or fifth ride. I know that even some of the crew are putting their hands up for riding.”

On February 8, HFF also announced a partnership with AFL club Port Adelaide’s Power Community Program.