Tom completes 1000km ride to raise money for Huntington’s families

TOM Malcolm, 11, has ridden from Sydney to Barwon Heads with his grandfather Bob Montgomery in a bid to raise $50,000 for Huntington’s families to get the vital help and support they need.
The duo took off after the Walk4Hope at Parramatta Park on September 22, before undertaking their 1000-kilometre, 10-day ride, and arrived in Barwon Heads last Wednesday.
Members of the Barwon Heads Cycling Club rode with Tom and Bob for their final leg, as family and friends welcomed them back into town.
They have raised more than $21,000 for Huntington’s NSW & ACT to date.
“Today we finally finished the bloody amazing ride from Sydney to Melbourne,” Tom said on Instagram through his @ride.4.hd page.
“We rode in with the Barwon Heads Cycling Club who were amazing and taught me how to ride in a group.
“Thanks for all the support everyone has given me especially my two brothers, my Mum and Dad and most importantly my grandparents.
“Thanks for all the generous donations.
“They have helped so many people who suffer from Huntington’s Disease.
“It’s been a wild ride and we’re just getting started.”
Bob, 75, has completed many national rides to help raise money for charities MND & Huntington’s.
His first ride was from Katoomba to Port Douglas, second from Perth to Leura, third from Darwin to Perth, fourth from Darwin to Port Douglas, and his fifth was Sydney to Melbourne.
“On my last four rides raising funds for two great charities MND & Huntington’s I have ridden solo, however this year I was both pleased and very proud to have my 11-year-old grandson Tom Malcolm riding with me,” he said.
Bob said a really good friend of his had Huntington’s in his family and that he had been part of his support crew over the last three rides he had undertaken.
In preparation for the ride, Bob kept up his training of 400kms cycling per week and also doing weights daily.
“Tom is a very sports-minded young man who and well as cycling plays rugby and cricket, does cross country running and loves hiking,” he said.
“He has been following a very strict training program overseen by his parents and myself and has undertaken quite a few rides around Centennial Park and in the Blue Mountains learning about road riding and safety precautions that have to be followed at all times.”
Bob, a proud member of the Rotary Club of Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise and a Paul Harris Fellow, was pleased to once again have the Club’s full support.
The duo also stopped to speak at various Rotary Clubs along the journey to spread the word about Huntington’s Disease.
To donate, visit walkforhope2019.everydayhero.com/au/bob, or to see photos from the ride, visit @ride.4.hd on Instagram.