Tommy Quick reaches the final leg of his ‘4 Points’ journey

A recumbent cyclist and stroke survivor has made his way to Cairns for the final leg of his journey to the tip of Australia.

Melbourne man Tommy Quick is completing the 4 Points Australia cycling challenge, riding his trike on a 9000km journey from Western Australia to the most southern, eastern and northern points of mainland Australia, while raising awareness of young stroke victims such as himself. He is aiming to raise $1m for the Stroke Foundation. Picture: Brendan Radke

Reaching the tip of Queensland on his 30th birthday would be a dream come true for recumbent cyclist Tommy Quick.

The young stroke and car crash survivor and advocate has made it his mission to cycle all four points of Australia on the bicycle, which places the rider in a laid-back reclining position, while raising awareness of youth stroke and funds for The Stroke Foundation.

Mr Quick, who began the journey to Queensland from Coominya in Victoria, said he was surprised to be ahead of schedule.

“The ride’s been good. Everything’s gone as smoothly as butter and we’re ahead of schedule,” Mr Quick said.

Mr Quick, who was seriously injured after being hit by a car on his journey in the Barossa Valley in 2021, faced a year-long setback to achieving his dream.

His mother Rena who was driving in the support vehicle behind her son said a car had gone to overtake them before it T-boned Mr Quick.

After spending three weeks at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and learning how to walk again,

Melbourne man Tommy Quick is completing the 4 Points Australia cycling challenge, riding his trike from Western Australia 9000 kilometres to the most southern, eastern and northern points of mainland Australia, while raising awareness of young stroke victims such as himself. He is aiming to raise $1m for the Stroke Foundation. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Quick found the confidence to get back on the road, with long-time friend and fellow cyclist David Jones.
Mr Jones, who flew in from Melbourne, will also be riding beside Mr Quick on the final leg of his journey.

“We’re going to do the bit from Mareeba to the tip. We’ve done a bit of planning today so we’ll see how it goes,” Mr Jones said.

Mr Quick said he expected to reach the tip on August 2, his 30th birthday.

“That would be pretty cool to get there on my birthday,” he said.

However, Mr Quick said his main goal, aside from finishing the ride, was to start a conversation about how strokes impact young people.”

“Stroke happens at any age, it’s not just an old people’s thing. The statistics show one-in-three strokes happen under the age of 65. By 2050, it’s projected to be just under 82,000 people will have had a stroke,” he said.

Though the end is in sight for the Queensland stretch of his journey, Mr Quick is determined to finish his original jaunt, riding from the Barossa Valley, where he was struck by a car, back home to Melbourne.

“It’s 809km and after that, I’ll be done. No more,” Mr Quick said.

To follow Mr Quick’s journey at the4points.org.

Originally published as Tommy Quick reaches the final leg of his ‘4 Points’ journey