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MONEY:
CO of Canberra CMDR Ray Leggatt presents a cheque to the
Director of PaTCH, Professor Graham Reynolds. The money
was raised by the HMAS Canberra Charity Bike Ride. Photo:
LSPH Phillip ‘Rex’ Hunt
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Photo:
LSPH Phillip ‘Rex’ Hunt
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HELPING:
A member of the HMAS Canberra Charity Bike Riding Team
meets a patient in the Canberra Hospital Childrens Ward.
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Photo:
LSPH Phillip ‘Rex’ Hunt
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By
POCIS Leo Vredenbregt
Sixteen sailors from HMAS Canberra completed a charity bike
ride from Sydney to Canberra recently. The brain child of the
event, CPOET Tony Doherty and a select few of the fittest crew
members trained throughout Canberra’s recent North East Asian
Deployment in order to successfully complete the 317km journey
from Sydney to Canberra.
The money raised was for the Canberra Hospital’s Paediatrics
and Child-Health (PaTCH) Department Ward. The bike ride was
planned to coincide with HMAS Canberra’s Freedom of Entry celebrations
in Canberra.
When the group arrived safely at the Canberra Hospital on July
22, they were welcomed by a six-foot tall platypus (the PaTCH
mascot), hospital staff, patients and 120 fellow crew members.
The CO, CMDR Ray Leggatt, presented the Director of PaTCH, Professor
Graham Reynolds, with a cheque for $6038.80. Professor Reynolds
said the money raised by the cyclists would go towards new toys
and games and entertainment for children to use during their
hospital stays.
Following the welcoming, the cyclists and some members of the
ships’ company toured the paediatrics ward and handed out hats
and stickers to some of the children. The Navy Indoor Sports
Centre at Fleet Base East supplied the bikes used in the ride
with the riders also raising money from various truck stops
and towns along the way.
The Mittagong RSL and the Goulburn Workers Club overwhelmingly
supported the group in their endeavour by donating money, accommodation
and meals.
Other sponsors included CEA Technology (a HMAS Canberra born
and bred company), Tenix, Toll, National Australia Bank, Australian
Technology Information, Beams Bros and the ACT Brumbys Veteran
Rugby Club.
