Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School to tackle 20km Around the Bay course
Shiv Iyer is putting his love of riding to good use in this weekend’s Around the Bay event. The 9-year-old who “loves to help” is hoping the community will rally around his charitable mission.
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Shiv Iyer is taking his passion for riding and using it to help the less fortunate.
The Year 4 Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School student will ride 20km with his father, Subu Iyer, as part of the bike riding event Around the Bay this weekend.
All funds raised by riders in the lead up to the event will go directly to The Smith Family and supporting the education of Aussie kids living in poverty.
The 9-year-old from Keilor East said he loved helping people and had been practising very hard for the big ride.
“I wanted to do this because I feel inspired by my dad and I wanted to raise money for disadvantaged kids,” Shiv said.
“I’m a bit nervous but to be honest I’m going to do good.”
The young rider said he had already raised some money for charity but was hoping to raise much more.
“We can get a lot more money for charity. I love helping people,” Shiv said.
His father Subu Iyer, 40, said that he had been cycling with Shiv for 10 months and the pair were riding every weekend from the Maribyrnong River to the CBD and back in preparation.
“It’s something we do as father and son, it’s our way of bonding,” he said.
Mr Iyer thought it would be great to involve Shiv in the ride to keep him active and show him the value of helping others.
“He appreciates he’s a lucky kid but also understands there are other kids who are less fortunate,” he said.
“These days we really don’t think there would still be kids struggling to get to school, you take it for granted. It’s a bit of an eye opener.”
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He said the whole community had rallied around Shiv and his mission to help.
“His classmates have agreed to raise money for him, as well as family and friends who are supporting his ride,” Mr Iyer said.
The proud father said their biggest challenge would be trying not to get distracted during the ride.
“The hardest part will be focusing on the ride rather than looking at everything around him and hopefully doing the ride in one hit without stopping,” Mr Iyer said.
Around the Bay starts from Albert Park Lake on Sunday, October 6.
Click here to donate to Shiv.