Overwhelming support for Bellarine ride

A RED Nose Appeal bike ride around the Bellarine has smashed its fundraising target and raised hopes of it becoming a successful annual event.

Peter Herrick and a group of local cyclists embarked on a 110-kilometre ride across Geelong and the Bellarine last Saturday (August 14) to raise money for the fight against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The inaugural Ride the Bellarine for SIDS event also included a fundraising night at the ride’s finish line – Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club – and attracted more than $26,000 from sponsorships, auctions, raffles and community donations, more than five times the initial target of $5000.

The event was timed to coincide with this year’s Red Nose Day last Friday (August 13), which is Australia’s leading charity event for the condition each year.

Mr Herrick launched the ride idea following the success of a Walk to Lara last year, in honour of his friend in England who lost his daughter, Lara Maddocks, to SIDS in 2019.

Mr Herrick said he was blown away by the support from local people and businesses for the first attempt and hoped the ride would become a yearly fixture of the Bellarine’s Red Nose Day recognition.

“I think we had about six tyre punctures all up, but everyone started and finished together, which is the main thing,” he said.

“We’re absolutely thrilled, more indebted to the community that got behind us and supported my crazy idea.”