Bay’s Wish a reality

A GROUP of sixteen cyclists has raised much needed funds for Make-A-Wish by riding across Victoria last week.

The 700-kilometre ride finished on Saturday and was aiming to raise $100,000 in honour of Bailey Fuller, who passed away in 2012 at the age of eight.

Bailey’s dad, Roger Fuller, said the ride was the perfect way fulfil Bailey’s wish.

“In 2003 Bailey was born”, Mr Fuller said. “Not long after he was born, he was rushed down to the Royal Children’s Hospital.”

“He was eventually diagnosed with a rare illness called Dravet Syndrome we battled through the illness all his life. He went to a special development school here in Bendigo.”

“We came across the Make-a-Wish team while we were at the Royal Children’s and we were told that he would qualify for a wish, but unfortunately he passed away before he got his opportunity.

“I spoke to the Make-A-Wish team quite a few years after, I said how about I make his wish for him which would’ve been bikes, which is my passion too.”

In 2019, Mr Fuller led a team of cyclists on a 1500-kilometre ride across Victoria.

“Our target of $10,000 wasn’t achieved, we ended up raising $61,000 which just blew us away,” Mr Fuller said.

The ride, known as Bay’s Wish, was then taken on by Make-A-Wish and turned into an annual fundraiser.

“They’ve done an amazing job promoting the ride,” Mr Fuller said. “Unfortunately like all businesses they’ve had to battle through COVID which restricted numbers.”

“So, what we’ve got is fantastic. We’ve got 23 registered riders; there’s 16 participating and the other guys are doing their own thing still raising money for Make-a-Wish.”

The team started in Albury, NSW and cycled a route that passed through Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballart and Queenscliff before finishing at Albert Park in Melbourne.

Mr Fuller said he’s grateful for the support he’s received from Make-A-Wish Australia.

“We’re not out to cure illnesses, the whole concept is to put a smile on a kid’s face,” he said. “It’s a memory that child will have forever.

“Especially kids that are doing it a bit tough, we’ve been there we know what it’s like.”