Relay veterans ride for new cause

A TEAM of cyclists is partnering with the Grampians Health’s fundraising arm for this year’s Murray to Moyne charity relay event.

On the first weekend of April, the Velorats will ride more than 500 kilometres from Swan Hill to Port Fairy, which they’ve previously done in support of the Leukemia Foundation.

Team captain Ross Huntington said the change in charity partners to the Ballarat Health Services Foundation is to make their cause more local.

“The Foundation is something a bit different with our change in name,” he said. “It’s a local charity too so that was the main reason for us.

“We’ve had a few names but mainly rode under the Rotary Club of Ballarat West, and we’ve generally raised about $10,000 to $15,000 per year.

“We’ll leave Swan Hill at about 9am on the Saturday and ride from Hamilton at about 7am on Sunday the next day.

“We’ve got about 13 riders at this stage and we’ll generally hit the 12 to 15 person mark each year.”

The Velorats raised more than $200,000 for the Leukemia Foundation during their twenty-year partnership, and this year’s goal is to raise more than $25,000 for BHSF.

The cash will go towards physiology exercise equipment for cancer and cardio patients for Grampians Health.

Grampians Health’s head of fundraising and engagement Sarah Masters said the cycling team’s initiative will be a great benefit for patients in the region.

“This will get us appropriate equipment for our patients to be able to take home,” she said.

“There’s strong evidence that people who are cycling or undertaking physical activity during their chemotherapy, for instance, they’ll actually get a better uptake.

“This is a program we’ve only been able to roll out in a very limited way so having the Velorats ride for us is going to make an enormous difference to our physiology department.

“The equipment for one person would cost between $500 and $800.”