By ANEEKA SIMONIS
FOR her 50th birthday, Marianna Barker got a bike.
While she uses it to stay fit and healthy, she is also clocking up kilometres for an important issue affecting Aussie kids.
The Berwick grandmother of two is taking part in a month-long cycling fundraiser, Riding to Fight Kid’s Cancer, which has already attracted more than half a million dollars for the Children’s Medical Research Institute (CMRI).
Now in its second year, the October challenge is an initiative supported by the Great Cycling Challenge.
Mrs Barker said her personal experience with the disease motivated her to join more than 5150 other participants who are currently signed on to raise money for cancer research.
“A girlfriend lost a child to stomach cancer (a number of years ago). It came on very quickly and it was very distressing,” she said.
According to the Great Cycle Challenge, cancer is the largest killer of children across Australia with 600 kids being diagnosed each year.
Mrs Barker, who has already reached her target of donating $750, hopes her contributions will someday help reverse that statistic.
“The money I raise could help save one child… it’s in some small way contributing to the overall research,” she said.
Last year, the fundraising event raised $1.23 million for cancer research at CMRI. This year the Great Cycle Challenge aims to raise more than $1.5 million which coincides with National Children’s Week and Ride2Work day.
CMRI director Professor Roger Reddel said it was contributions from people such as Mrs Barker that will help researchers edge closer to finding a cure.
“Individuals participating in initiatives like Great Cycle Challenge have already enabled CMRI’s researchers to make a number of vital discoveries, including a test that will help identify some of the most aggressive types of cancers.
“The funds raised by the individuals and teams taking part in Great Cycle Challenge will accelerate the search for new treatments for childhood cancer,” Prof Reddel said.
Participants log their cycling kilometres through the event’s GPS mobile application which can be tracked on the rider’s profile page.
Mrs Barker aims to clock about 300 kilometres across the month, cycling her usual route from home to Pakenham as well taking on the Hallam Valley Trail.
To sponsor Mrs Barker on her ride, visit her rider profile on greatcyclechallenge.com.au.
