Ride for Research 2024

Posted on 13/12/23

Nine years ago, an 11-month-old baby girl from Sydney was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer. A softball-size tumour in her abdomen. Two years earlier, a now 64-year-old women from the Gold Coast became the oldest female in Australia diagnosed with the same rare ovarian cancer. 94% of patients with the rare cancer are under 30 years of age.

Because the cancer is rare, there is no cure! Nor is there research to help understand the disease. Clinicians are prescribing treatments based on “best guess” rather than facts. Research is needed. In 2022 a group of road riders rode from Parliament House Canberra to the MCG – 900km over 9 days! The 12 riders raised $165,000 to fund research at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne.

Between 18-22 March 2024, 30 riders will be riding over 5 consecutive days to raise funds for lifesaving research into rare ovarian cancer. Based in the beautiful town of Bright, Victoria. Their goal is to raise $200,000 for lifesaving research into this killer cancer at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne.

There will be two groups of riders. A road riding team covering 500km over 5 days including three challenging climbs (Tawonga and Rosewhite Gaps, Stanley Loop, and Mt Buffalo) with two days of longer flatter rides between the climbs. The second group will be a rail trail team riding flatter and shorter (30-60km) distances. The rail trail routes will include Bright to Harrietville and Bright to Myrtleford, part of the Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail.

See https://www.rocinc.org.au/ride-for-research-itinerary/ for all the routes.

In 2026, we are exploring using the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail or Northern Rivers Rail Trail as our event venue.

For more information on the 2024 fundraising ride, see https://www.rocinc.org.au/ride-for-research/

To make a tax-deductible donation, go to one of our rider’s donation page, Nick Verhoeven (a MTB coach, gravel rider and rail trail enthusiast) and click here https://www.rocinc.org.au/campaigns/nick-verhoeven/

Ride safe all.

(Author and photo – Peter Reaburn, Secretary of Rare Ovarian Cancer Inc.)

Riding group from the previous ride “Research 2022” at the top of the mountain

One comment on “Ride for Research 2024”

This ride is being organised by a group of us from around Australia. All donations over $2 are tax deductible. All money goes into the research being conducted by the Hudson Institute in Melbourne on this insidious disease. We intend to make this a biennial event with the emphasis on not just challenging riding for a cause, but also to raise awareness of this little known cancer that affects so many women. And we aim to do this in a fun and inclusive event that caters for all types of riders and all levels of fitness.

As a member of Rail Trails Australia, I also know how investment into rail trails is transforming, for the better, the communities on those trails. That is why Ride4Research in Rare Ovarian Cancer Inc. is aiming to focus on rides associated with our rail trails, and the communities along those trails. This ensures that not only are we able to raise funds and awareness about Rare Ovarian Cancer, but the communities that support us also benefit.

So if you have a few spare dollars, make a donation at https://www.rocinc.org.au/ride-for-research-riders/

Stay upright and have fun.