HUNDREDS of dirt bike riders will go full-throttle in a two-day festival of fun – the 2017 KTM Ride4Kids – to raise much-needed funds for children living with cancer at Broadford’s State Motorcycle Sports Complex on February 25-26.
Bryce Gathercole, 17, of Yarrambat, will be riding for his brother Thomas who passed away at aged 10 in 2006 after a three-year battle with the disease.
“I lost my brother to cancer and the charity running this event – Challenge – Supporting kids with cancer – means a lot to us. It provides amazing support to kids living with cancer and their families and everyone needs to get behind it,” Bryce said.
Since Thomas was first diagnosed in 2003 the Gathercoles have raised have helped raise more than half a million dollars for Challenge.
Now in its 15th year, the Ride4Kids event will offer children living with cancer the chance to join likeminded motorcycle lovers and enjoy a weekend of competitive and non-competitive motocross and off-road style events.
Bryce’s father, Craig Gathercole, is one of the event’s organiser alongside Matt Manning who has also gone through the program with Challenge, and is looking forward to the unique two-day festival.
“It’ll be free riding for juniors, novices and seniors throughout the weekend with the intention to raise as much funds as they can throughout the weekend and go into the draw to win two top-of-the-line KTM motorbikes,” Craig said.
“This year, we’ll also be introducing the exciting Vincent Chiodo Cup, where we’ll give 40 experienced riders the opportunity to win a trip to the United States to compete in Red Bull’s ‘A Day in the Dirt’ event,” he added.
“The goal of the weekend is to raise as much money for Challenge as possible but for those who do go to the event, they’ll get to see some of Australia’s best motocross and off-road riders battle it out for a very cool prize,” Craig added.
“Straight after the racing on Saturday, there will be a BBQ, music and entertainment which will provide a carnival-like atmosphere,” he added. “It’ll be a great event to kick-off the whole season.”
To register for the KTM Ride4Kids please visit: www.challenge.org.au
“It’s Australia’s biggest dirt bike charity event and it’s all about having fun and raising some money,” Bryce added.
Ryan Fritz
Ryan Fritz started The Advocate in 2014 to provide not-for-profits and charities another media platform to tell their worthwhile hard news stories and opinion pieces effortlessly. In 2020, Ryan formed a team of volunteer journalists to help spread even more high-quality stories from the third sector. He also has over 10 years experience as a media and communications professional for not-for-profits and charities and currently works at Redkite, a childhood cancer charity.
