Why I’m involved in Tour de Cure
Welcome to My Tour de Cure Blog. This is my first post so I thought I might write about why I’m involved in the Tour de Cure (TDC).
There are 4 main reasons why I got involved and are still passionate about the cause to cure cancer and increase awareness, research and support for all Australians.
1/ It starts with the cause, as some now infamous cyclist said “it’s not all about the bike”. Losing my mum to a cancer like disease called Lupus was a catalyst to get involved after meeting and becoming mates with a neighbour, TDC co-founder, Geoff Coombes. It just seemed a perfect way to honour the 20 year anniversary of my mums passing by riding my first full Tour in 2011 from Sydney to Melbourne. This week one of my best mates Nathan Ashley lost his Dad, Kevin who fought hard against Pancreatic cancer over the last year. It touches all of us in some way….
2/ To be brutally honest it is addictive. It is an amazing cause but the camaraderie and friendships I’ve developed through TDC are like no others. It might be all those chats on long training rides and spending 10 days in the TDC bubble each year. The Tour is a cross between feeling like a professional athlete and giving back to Australian communities along the route as we visit 5000 primary school kids. It’s like a massive shot of adrenaline due to being surrounded by 80 of the most positive people you have ever met.
3/ As a father of 3 TDC provides a pretty cool role model opportunity to live by example. Both reinforcing living a happy, healthy, and fit life by keeping fit on the bike and trying to give back in some small way to the community through raising a minimum of $12,000 each year.
4/ Lastly like everybody else I need to work to pay the bills. Luckily I’m in an unique opportunity where Optus has got on board as a major sponsor of TDC. This support makes it easier balancing work with the Tour and an opportunity to spread the TDC message to another 7000 people. It has made me enjoy my work even more and will increase to another level this year as our CEO and CFO are both behind the cause and signed up for this years tour.
Stay tuned for future blogs as I try and take you on the TDC journey before we start this years Signature Tour from Adelaide to Canberra on April 26th
Cheers Reidy
ps Thanks to my very supportive family and beautiful wife Janene who I swore I would not do it all again this year. I promise not to be grumpy over the next few months 🙂
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