Ride in rain was no pain for gain

By SGT Ralph Miller

SGT Ray Kopp, FSGT Ralph Miller, CPL Dave Clews, CFN Liam Nicholas and FSGT Bob Gourley rode 400km to raise money for charity.

Photo by CPL Craig Sharp

FIVE RAAF Base Townsville members have ridden their bicycles from Townsville to Cairns for charity.

Sergeant Ralph Miller, of 332CSS; Sergeant Ray Kopp, of 395ECSW; Flight Sergeant Bob Gourley and Corporal Dave Clews, of 1CLS; and Craftsman Liam Nicholas of 5AV Regt participated in the 2004 Children’s Cancer Institute of Australia (CCIA) annual charity bike ride, held in late July.

They were among 211 participants to raise a minimum of $200 each before taking part. They each covered just over 400km in their journey.

CPL Clews rode a 14-year-old bike and kept pace with the fast group, many of whom were riding expensive, newer bikes.

Participants – who included 13, 14 and 15-year-olds who were allowed to ride their BMX bikes all the way – rode from Townsville to Ingham the first day, from Ingham to Cardwell on the second, and from Cardwell to Cairns on the last day.

Money was raised for CCIA at each major town. Constant tropical rain marred the whole ride. It rained about 5½ hours out of the 10.22 hours total ride time over the three days it took the fast group to complete the ride.

They averaged 35.06km/h. SGT Miller said the ride was worth it. “A little bit of rain is nothing compared to what the kids with cancer go through,” he said. At last count from the organisers of the ride had raised $98,600.

Organisers hope to raise more than $100,000.

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