A group of cyclists from Seaford have taken on a massive feat to raise $150,000 for a school in Papua New Guinea.
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In just seven days, two groups of change-making cyclists have traversed more than 700km.
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The inaugural Ride for Change in 2012, a 1000km trek from Sydney to Melbourne, raised more than $27,000 for the Gateway Children’s Fund.
This year, the group is reaching for a goal of $150,000.
GCF is a Gateway Church initiative which supports children in need in Papua New Guinea.
It began as an early childhood development program operating in Port Moresby and has now grown into the Gateway Christian School, which aids more than 250 children in need each day.
The Ride for Change trek this year features stops in regional Victorian hotspots.
With one group riding a total of 1300km and the other 700km, it may be difficult to imagine the cyclists appreciating the scenery they pass.
However, Seymour-born Jacob Massey-Chase said that while their legs were sore, the sights of the north-east had still been cherished by the groups.
“I love this town — it’s a beautiful countryside,” he said.
“We were riding past all of these farms in awe.”
The Ride for Change team stopped in Seymour at Cafe 96 for a cuppa and a rest.
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On Tuesday, May 13, the cyclists stopped in Seymour for a 10-minute break at Cafe 96, where they met Jacob’s nan, Seymour resident Jenni Hempel, who supplied them with the perfect fuel for their journey: a large bag of homemade biscuits.
Ms Hempel was beaming with pride as her grandson led the pack of cyclists in blue lycra up Station St.
“As his nan, I am proud of him,” she said.
“Not only physically proud of what he’s doing here, I am proud of the church and what they can achieve.
“It encourages people to take part and to be part of the group. It amazes me that they all do it so willingly.”
After their stop in Seymour, the riders hit the road on their way to Nagambie for an overnight stay.
Their journey is set to finish back where they started, in Seaford on the Mornington Peninsula.
Mr Massey-Chase said that although day two, when they stopped in Seymour, was the hardest ride yet, passion for the project was what pushed the group’s members to keep moving their legs.
“It’s all to raise money for a charity called Gateway Children’s Fund, which I’m very passionate about,” he said.
“I go up to Papua New Guinea once a year. We’ve got a school up there that gives education, nutrition and healthcare for free to 250 kids.
“Our goal this year is we’re riding to raise $150,000 to help run that school, and so far so good — we’ve got some sore legs but we’re having a really good time.
“All people are here for different reasons, but all of us are united with that common cause of raising funds.”
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