Townsville paramedic Michael Paulsen to ride 1000km for cancer
Townsville’s purple-headed paramedic Michael Paulsen has ridden 100,000km for cancer research and will soon be looking to add another thousand to the tally, all with a unique crown.
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Townsville’s purple-headed paramedic Michael Paulsen has ridden 100,000km for cancer research and will soon be looking to add another thousand to the tally.
Paulsen has been a paramedic for the past 30 years and for the last two decades he’s worked as a critical care flight paramedic for QGAir based at the Townsville Airport.
At the end of the month he will jump back in the saddle for his seventh Signature Tour de Cure, riding 1000km for the charity event from Airlie Beach to Port Douglas.
“We will be cycling over eight days raising much needed funds for cancer research, education prevention and support,” Paulsen said.
He will be one of 120 riders along with support crews making the journey, with stop overs in Townsville and Magnetic Island along the way, with every rider having a personal challenge to raise $12,000 or more.
The paramedic decided to colour his hair purple to bring more attention to his fundraising effort.
“To raise awareness and support my fundraising initiative (leading up to the event) I have had my hair dyed purple since the beginning of the year and become known as the ‘Purple-Headed Paramedic,” he said.
“Every year you think of something different. Each rider has to raise a minimum of $12,000 - that’s their fundraising commitment.
“We work out various ways of raising that money and I thought, ‘what’s a way that I can raise awareness for cancer, but also help with my fundraising?’
“A friend of mine is a hairdresser, and her daughter actually went through a cancer journey last year.”
Paulson said his hairdressing friend suggested he colour his hair purple.
He said once he rode into Port Douglas his hair would change.
“I will be shaving my hair at the end, once we’re in Port Douglas and then let it grow back and get its normal colour back. A mixture between silver and blonde,” he said.
Paulsen said he began riding for cancer research after doing critical care training with children suffering from cancer at Brisbane hospitals.
“I spent time training in children’s hospitals down in Brisbane, and during that time, I did see a lot of kids affected by cancer, and that really, really got the heartstrings.
“It really highlighted to me that cancer is a disease that doesn’t discriminate. You can be old, you can be young, and it’s not necessarily an old person that’s got underlying health issues. Healthy people get it and young people get it.
“From from that day, it really triggered me to do something with my bike and that’s when I started charity riding for cancer organisations,” he said.
After seeing Channel 7’s Mark Beretta on Sunrise talking about the annual Signature Tour de Cure Paulsen decided to jump on board.
“My first ride was from Adelaide to Melbourne and ever since I’ve been doing the ride. This is my seventh one,” Paulsen said.
The Purple-Headed paramedic is hoping for community support to reach is fundraising target.
“I am looking forward to the support of the Townsville community to assist my fundraising to reach my target of $12,000. Donations can be made by visiting my fundraising page https://signaturetour.tourdecure.com.au/michael-paulsen”.
More Coverage
Originally published as Townsville paramedic Michael Paulsen to ride 1000km for cancer
Jennifer Board’s killer tries for lighter sentence
The self-described ‘vigilante’ who crashed his car into a motorcyclist while chasing a car thief has applied to have his 12-year manslaughter sentence reduced.
WATCH: Crews respond to restaurant fire after reports of ‘gas bottles on fire’
Queensland Fire Department crews from Townsville are on scene of a restaurant fire in Hermit Park, after reports of gas bottles being ‘alight’. LATEST >