Clocking up Ks for charity

NOT everyone would say “hell yes” to an over one-thousand-kilometre bike ride from Mildura to Melbourne, but co-owner of Bendigo Cycles Jo Lythgo did just that.

She’ll be taking on the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation’s Silver Lining Ride later this month as one of only 12 state tour participants.

The 1300-kilometre journey is scheduled alongside a month-long campaign challenging all other riders to complete 1068 kilometres – one for every Australian woman who loses their life to ovarian cancer each year.

“There’s no early detection for ovarian cancer at all. You can just think that it’s your monthly cycle going on and it can actually be a lot worse,” Ms Lythgo said.

“When most women catch it, they catch it when it’s too late and it takes them too quickly.”

Ms Lythgo will be setting off from Mildura on 19 November, passing through Ouyen, Swan Hill, Echuca, Yarrawonga, Wangaratta, Shepparton, Bendigo, Ballarat, Sorrento and crossing the finish line in Melbourne nine days later.

While riding in memory of her aunty who she lost to ovarian cancer in 2009, she’s also raising money for the OCRF to go towards grants for treatment or early detection research projects.

Two weeks before even hitting the road, she’s just $150 shy of her $5000 goal after spreading the word to friends, family, colleagues and on social media.

“I didn’t know what to expect to be honest,” Ms Lythgo said. “Five thousand dollars is massive.

“It’s just been amazing how quickly they came on board. It took about a week and I was at $3000.”

In preparation for the ride, she’s clocking up some 200 kilometres every week on her bike and said she’s motivated by both the cause and the freedom cycling brings.

“Feeling very locked down and claustrophobic from COVID, the only thing I could do to keep my normalcy was ride my bike,” Ms Lythgo said.

“What spurs me on is that I’m doing something that’s raising money for a cause that’s so important.”