Every dollar counts and this year’s Endure for a Cure raised funds to support four scientists to keep up the work on finding a cure.
Last Friday, riders from 31 corporate and two school teams took to a wet and windy circuit to raise much-needed funding for the Children’s Cancer Institute in support of the annual Endure for a Cure charity endurance ride. As Australia’s only independent medical research institute dedicated to curing childhood cancers, CCIA will now be able to fund four scientists to continue the search for better treatments and ultimately a cure.
Team Quay joined more than 170 riders at Eastern Creek for the 12-hour charity ride, cycling from dawn to dusk to clock as many KMs as possible in support of kids who are undergoing treatment for cancer. Despite the awful weather, this year’s riders raised an impressive $385,000 for CCIA, the best result in the event’s four-year history.
“The money raised during this ride translates into funding four scientists in the lab who will keep working towards a cure. It’s a highly tangible outcome and is dollar-matched funding,” said Rod Adams, founding Principal of Quay who is part of the Endure for a Cure board.
“It’s an awesome outcome for everyone who went out on the track or was track-side to support the riders, considering how difficult the conditions were. But what matters is that 8 out of 10 kids now survive their cancer journey thanks to this kind of research so every dollar we can add to the pot makes a big difference.”
Sixty years ago, the odds of surviving childhood cancer were low and while great progress has been made, many kids are left with lifelong physical or psychological issues that last well beyond successful treatment. The CCIA’s commitment and medical research focus is personalised medicine with the goal of reducing the suffering that kids undergoing treatment have to endure and to help them achieve the best quality of life possible.
“That’s one of the key motivations for us: The more money we can raise, the more kids can get access to better treatment that doesn’t have those long-term consequences. Better yet, it contributes to finding a cure,” said Rod.
“When you know about the impact that CCIA is having, it’s really satisfying to get to the end of a 12-hour endurance ride and see the contribution everyone has made on the day.”
Held at the Sydney Motorsport Park at Eastern Creek, the riders felt the full force of the weather across the day, which was the first serious rain Sydney had seen in nearly four months. The day started under ominous grey skies and heavy showers which persisted throughout the event while riders also had to contend with gusty south-east winds that made it a very different ride from previous years.
Despite the challenging weather, it was a great day for the riders who embraced the rain and went to work. The peloton was soon setting the pace on a modified circuit, whilst other riders settled into their own rhythm for the duration of the event.
“The weather was abominable but what I saw out on the track was a lot of grit and determination to just get on and ride, along with a lot of laughter, conversation, and camaraderie,” said Michael Bolton, Principal at Quay.
“We’re all here to support kids with cancer – and their families – to get access to treatment that is not going to leave them with lifelong consequences. But it doesn’t happen without people who sponsor us: We want to give a big shout-out to everyone who has given us a donation or made the time to support us in this event, particularly Peter Crowther from Downer who joined Team Quay as a rider.”
Quay’s Senior BDM Brad Kane agreed and said that the weather only served as a reminder of what the event was all about.
“We’ve been doing Endure for a Cure since it started four years ago and the ride is never easy – especially when you’re getting to the end of the day and the legs are really starting to burn,” said Brad, who cycled an impressive 188km on the day.
“But the rain and wind really made it feel like an endurance ride, which is the point: Cancer treatment for kids is a hugely challenging endurance journey. My wobbly legs at the end of the day are nothing by comparison! But our success doesn’t happen without sponsors and support, so we want to thank everyone who has contributed.”
“Every dollar helps CCIA to get closer to zero childhood cancer.”
We are still taking donations if you’re able to give.
We’d love you to sponsor the team with however little or how much you can spare. All of the money raised will help kids with cancer to get personalised treatments for their specific type of cancer. All donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
It’s easy to donate by clicking here
