A charity ride last week from Inverell to Newcastle, which saw 25 cyclists pass through the Central Coast, has raised $260,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Money raised through the Ride For Sick Kids, held from September 2-10, will equate to more than 1,400 nights of accommodation provided to seriously ill or injured children and their families from across Northern NSW.
Tyson Nicholson of Woongarrah was involved with the ride for the second time after first completing it in 2019.
With the ride suspended in 2020 and 2001 due to COVID-19 restrictions, Nicholson was unable to complete the entire course this year due to other commitments, but offered his services as an anchor on a couple of the legs.
He said before joining the first ride, he had little understanding of what Ronald McDonald House Charities was all about.
“But along the ride you get to talk to families and children impacted by illness about what the charity has done for them,” he said.
“You realise the importance of what you’re involved with when you hear how illness has impacted on those families and the gratitude they have for any support.
“You know you are part of something very worthwhile and special.
“Being a parent is not easy – it’s like having your heart run around outside your body.
“When you add sickness (of a child) to that you don’t know how you’d cope.
“The ride gives you plenty of time to think about how many kilometres are between some of these suburbs and how emotionally and financially difficult it is for some of these families to visit their kids in hospital.
RMHC Northern NSW CEO, Ross Bingham, said it was wonderful to bring the event back in its physical format following two years of virtual rides.
“Each year we support over 6,000 families from across the region so we are calling on the Northern NSW community get involved to help raise the vital funds,” he said.
Donations can still made until the end of September by donating to a rider at www.rideforsickkids.org.au.
Terry Collins