Over the past year, Erina-based Dr Elly Warren has taken part in the Tour de Cure to raise money for cancer research but this year she has decided to take the fundraising up a notch.
Together with friend Bec Hoschke, she has devised the Alpine Everesting event, to take place early next year in Victoria.
Warren has also taken part in the worldwide Everesting challenge, which sees cyclists all over the world complete rides equivalent to the distance from the base of Mt Everest to its peak over a 36 hour period.
“Everesting is a big thing worldwide and it’s become even bigger since lockdowns began,” she said,
“It’s really suited to anywhere there is a hill – you just ride up and down it as many times as it takes to reach the height of Mt Everest.”
Alpine Everesting will see a team of almost 30 riders from all over the country meet in Victoria on January 21-22 to undertake the gruelling ride.
“Bec and I came up with the idea after we met while riding over 900km with Tour de Cure,” Warren said.
“We will be in Victoria at the same time as another big cycling challenge and we will do that event as part of our Alpine Everesting.
“It started out with just the two of us and now we have almost 30 riders.
“We’re also keen to see women join the team and have just registered our 20th female rider.
“The Everesting Challenge is often attempted by men, with only a handful of women participating ,so for me it was really important to get a group of women together.
“There’s definitely an under-representation of women in cycling and it is really important we are out there and encouraging more women to get involved.”
Through her work with Yerin, which has been providing comprehensive primary health care to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities on the Central Coast for 25 years, Warren is especially aware of the cancer gap for those communities.
“Bridging this gap is so important and something I am really passionate about and this year we have some huge ideas on how we can amplify this message,” she said.
“I approached Tour de Cure about it and they are encouraging us to put all the money raised through our event towards that.
“Yerin has been right behind me in my Tour de Cure rides, helping me push the story about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer outcomes.
“Our route will take us over 500km in 36 hours, to a height of 10,000 metres, reaching an elevation even higher than Everest.”
The team has already raised more than $5,000, with the goal of raising $50,000.
Warren would like to do even better than that and raise enough to fund the employment of a specialist support worker, hopefully to be based on the Central Coast.
A cultural support person would cost around $70,000 but with each rider encouraged to raise at least $1,000, Warren is hopeful.
“Someone to guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through their cancer treatment – that’s where a lot of difference can be made,” she said.
Warren hopes Alpine Everesting will become an annual event.
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch, has thrown her support behind the challenge.
“Dr Elly not only devotes her life to the health and wellbeing of Coasties, most recently joining the force of vaccinators to arm the Central Coast, but she also has spent her free time working to cure cancer,” Tesch said.
“She is inspirational, selfless and incredible, doing so much for our community and for the fight against cancer.
“Cancer is an illness so many people in our community are faced with or have lost a loved one to.
“At times it feels like hope is lost, but Dr Elly reignites the hope in myself and I am sure many members of our community.”
To donate to the cause head to www.alpineeveresting.com.au.
To see more and show your support head to the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/drellysTDC or follow aplineeveresting on Instagram
Terry Collins