By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
WHEN the opportunity to support a worthwhile cause was put to the team at First National Neilson Partners, they had no hesitation in embracing it.
Twelve months ago, staff decided to field a team of riders in the 2016 Peter MacCallum Ride to Conquer Cancer – a two- day, 200km ride covering Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.
The group set off on 24 October in Albert Park, when they took off down the peninsula and across to Mornington for an overnight stay.
Resuming at 6.45am on a cold Sunday morning, they made their way up and down hills and across to Frankson, then battled winds of 30-35 knots and rode up the bay to Elwood. A team of enthusiastic supporters cheered riders across the line.
Not only was the physical aspect of the ride demanding, each individual participant committed to raising $2500 in funds to donate to the Peter MacCallum centre – Australia’s only public hospital dedicated to cancer research and treatment.
Amazingly, the team of 11 riders went above and beyond to raise just over $44,000, with the total funds raised at this year’s event reaching a staggering $2.96million.
The fit group walked away with an overwhelming sense of achievement, and are now on the hunt for their next challenge.
