Riding for Charlotte: Ride The Bellarine for SIDS gets into gear

The wheels are in motion for the second Ride The Bellarine for SIDS taking place this Saturday, August 4.

Ride director Peter Herrick said he and this year’s 27 team members are excited to take on the 110km ride around the Bellarine, beginning and ending at Ocean Grove Surf Lifesaving Club.

“There’s no more nerves about the ride at this stage, it’s pure excitement now, the only worry now are the conditions that we will be presented with on the day,” Mr Herrick said.

“We are up from 11 riders during last year’s ride and it has been amazing to watch this initiative grow since, we’ve more than doubled our team size.”

The Ride The Bellarine for SIDS team is riding in memory of Charlotte Halse this year, a baby girl born sleeping to mother Poppy Bottrell, who will be in attendance on the day.

Red Nose charity ambassador Amie Rohan, who also lost her baby girl Willow to SIDS, is a member of this year’s team and has been training regularly in the lead up to the ride.

This year’s course will take riders from Ocean Grove through Armstrong Creek and into Geelong, before travelling up the Portarlington Highway through towns such as Drysdale, Portarlington, Indented Head, St Leonards, Queenscliff, and Point Lonsdale, before finishing back in Ocean Grove.

“It’s a great relief that Red Nose and Ride for SIDS has fully jumped on board with our ride again this year and for me I will feel a great sense of pride riding alongside people that are so committed to this cause,” Mr Herrick said.

“I personally have two kids and I can’t imagine what other families have to go through with those kinds of traumatic moments.

“We’re lucky that we can contribute in this way.”

Ride The Bellarine for SIDS’ Silent Auction is now live. Items can be bid on until Saturday at 8pm.

Mr Herrick and the team hopes to raise $50,000 this year with all proceeds to go to the Red Nose Charity.

For all information related to this year’s ride, head to rideforsids.com