Rotary cycle for charity

TWENTY Rotarians pedalled into Gympie on Monday as part of The Great Australian Bike Ride to raise money for mental health.

Picture: Craig Warhurst

TWENTY Rotarians pedalled into Gympie on Monday as part of The Great Australian Bike Ride to raise money for mental health.

Stage manager Des Lawson and the riders dropped in at Gunabul Homestead for lunch organised by the Gympie Cooloola Rotary Club.

Mr Lawson said the ride would take the cyclists all around Australia in nine stages and was all about raising awareness and money for mental health issues.

“The riders are travelling about 120km per day on their way to Townsville,” he said.

“We stayed in Nambour last night and will be in Maryborough tonight,” he said.

The event is organised by Australian Rotary Health and is one of the most ambitious bicycle rides ever held in Australia.

The riders set off from Tullamarine in Victoria before heading to Tasmania and back up the east coast.

Along the way the riders are taken into local Rotarian homes in every town.

“We have been really well looked after,” Mr Lawson said.

“Riding is a good healthy activity, it helps reduce obesity and improves mental health.”

The ride is scheduled to finish in Melbourne on Mental Health Awareness Day, Saturday October 10. Anyone wishing to donate money can get on to the website www.greataustralianbikeride.org.au.

Originally published as Rotary cycle for charity