So it’s now less than 10 days till the tour kicks off and i thought i’d share some stories the people i’ve talked to while raising funds for TdC.

Firstly – this was a challenge – raising $12,000 is huge. I’d been part of some smaller fund-raisers for Movember and for sporting clubs…but this was different. This was going to be a tough challenge. When i initially signed up for TdC, a friend, Gershy, who had ridden the tour last year, said that during the fundraising i would talk to a lot of people…about how cancer had effected them. And he was right. This was confronting but it also gave me the self-belief that what i was doing was going to help people.

So a few stories about the people i met and the generosity that came with it.

Much of my fundraising has been linked with making coffee. My wife and I have a coffee cart (funkybrew) and we made the commitment that the profits of the jobs we do will go to TdC.  So for many weekends i dragged my two boys and wife out and we would make coffee and ask for donations. Of course with a cuppa in hand that’s when the stories would start. I have talked to many people who are either cancer survivors (that’s what they call themselves), people who are facing the prospect of a family or friends being treated for cancer, or those who have lost someone. Every time i have these conversations it re-affirms the belief that i am doing something important.

I remember one day a lady with red frizzy head came up and ordered a coffee and then just sat and looked at the TdC logo. After 10 seconds she asked (in a rather forward way) “so who gets the money?” I explained that the primary goal of TdC was to put money into the scientists hand so they could continue their research. “Good – they need it. They’re why i’m here…even with this silly hair” And she popped $20 into the box. We talked some more about what she’d been through and how it changed her life. She was also happy that much of our time on tour was dedicated to education in schools. So she thanked my for the cuppa and wished me good luck on the ride.

Another day when out riding the mountain bike at Stromlo in Canberra i heard a voice holler across the bush…it was a parent of one of the students i taught for a couple of years. He came across and asked how the fundraising was going? “Yep good” – I thanked him for his families kind and generous donation. He then asked me about my cousin and uncle. We chatted a bit and then he said – “yeah – my mums got cancer”. He told me about the treatment she is receiving and how it knocks her around. He was also hopeful because she was getting a new type of treatment that was working better for her. I could see and feel how important the treatment that his mum was receiving was…

So over the last few weeks of school I set the challenge that if the Duffy community could raise over $1000 for TdC – i would make the transformation to me being a roadie complete – and lose the hairs on my legs (I don’t have too much on top so it was the next logical progression). With that, a number of other male staff members joined in the efforts…here are some photos that tell the story…

 

So now with just over a week to go, now i can turn my attention to the day to day life on the Tour. There I will meet survivors and those who have lost. It will be an experience of a life time. Join me on this experience and i will write about my time on the Tour.

Kent

ps…donate today – it does make a difference.

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