I’m training, fundraising, and riding 200km to support WA cancer research

A journey begins…
Having need to take a break from running earlier this year I dusted off my 20-year-old mountain bike and started riding 20km on the weekends. Over the next couple of months 20 turned into 40 and then StepChange approached me to see if I would be interested in joining the Woodside team they support on the MACA Cancer 200 Ride; a 200km weekend ride to raise funds for cancer research.
It had been in the back of my mind for a few years that an event like this would be good to challenge myself with, so I joined the team. Then over the next hour it dawned on me that 40km is a long way short of 200.
So in May a few things happened; I pushed my next weekend ride to 48km, picked up a second hand road bike, and did the one thing I swore I’d never do… I purchased some lycra!
I will have 5 months to prepare for the October ride. A 400% increase on my weekend rides, learning about padded bums and how to use cleats. The journey has begun.
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The reason…
I, like many of you, have known families and friends who have battled cancer, often with an unhappy ending. And I have friends I grew up with who no longer have their parents in their lives.Â
Something I’d noted is how many of those were aged between 55 and 65. Right when they should have been starting to enjoy the fruits of many years hard work, they started the hardest battle of their lives.Â
As many of my friends and I start to edge closer to 50 in the coming years, remaining healthy and reducing what health risks I can control is important to me.Â
So I am riding because:
1. I want to raise funds to help cure this disease that affects so manyÂ
2. I’m trying to improve my fitness and reduce my risk of diseasesÂ
3. I like a (physical and mental) challenge
 The funds we raise will back the brilliant brains at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. These WA researchers are committed to finding answers faster and developing ground-breaking treatments for the hardest to treat cancers.
If you can support me, donate to my fundraising link on this page. I’d be so grateful for your support and every little bit helps.
Please help me, help the Perkins.
Your Impact
So far this year I helped provide…
16

hours of research
Funds raised over the years
Thank you to my Sponsors

$53
Chris Watson

$75.96
Scott Jerome
Great effort for a great cause Paul! Best of luck - spin don't grind. Having to step away from running reignited my passion for riding a number of years back. Enjoy the ride and stay safe.

$115
Chris Moore
Great cause and awesome effort Paul, well done!

$20
Jay Desai
Kudos for taking this on, go smash it!

$42.20
Tracy Dunne-brand
Well done Paulie!

$50
Mike Davila

$26.38
Hariharan Balasubramanian
Great Initiative, Keep up the good work Paul. Best wishes for your challenge.

$52.25
David Verbossche
All the best Paul

$52.25
Trent Husking
All the best on the ride Paul. I'm sure you will smash it and for a great cause also close to home.

$21.10
Corina Foote
Great cause Paul, good luck! xx

$100
Marie C

$115
Michelle The Favourite Sister

$52.75
Tony Blott

$55.92
Scotty And Tracey Parker

$55.92
Stewart Sutton

$54
Kylie Benton
You go Paul! Good for your health and good for the cause. Win win!

$101
Graeme Lynch
Good Work Paul

$51
Ozy & Charlotte
Well done and good luck Paul, go Hard!!

$52.75
Wendy Smith
Good luck Paul.


$223.66
Fatin Wajdi
Hi Paul! You can do it!

$31.65
Bradley Ennor

$52.25
Gisela Powe

$50
Tara Stevens

$52.75
Paul Gebhard


$2.5k
Stepchange Donation
Our Team

Craig Duarte (C)
$4,383.16

Kevin Clark
$23,702.13

Solomon Faka
$3,295.61

Adam Little
$2,556.54

Carley Thomas
$2,540.05

Challo

Roger Edland
$2,697.56

Peter Stubbs
$2,560.74

Anthony Hibbert
$784.00

Frayney
$3,834.33

Razak Risah
$161.42

Rajiv Kothari
$2,581.14

Melissa Narbey
$785.50

Simon Terry
$5,173.16

Darryl Salisbury
$4,007.82

Paul Taylor
$4,194.66

Hiren Mehta
$11,259.35

Michael Wauchope
$853.00

Wilco van Amersfoort
$3,123.55

Jason Nesa
$3,098.25

Adam Head

Daniel Lawrie

neil kavanagh
$170.92

Nick Thomas
$4,092.43

Lindsay Dickie
$2,500.00

Matthew Hankin
$1,666.83

Chris Pass
$1,707.47

Jason Tuffin
$241.65

Nick Elliott
$3,258.35

Emma Brennan
$1,348.07

Mal Dunwoody
$1,667.46

Huw Lynch
$2,365.26

John Marshall
$4,176.25

Rachel Edland
$3,617.56

Jon McGivern
$2,133.48

Shilan Dodhia
$4,236.99

Graeme Knights
$2,297.21

Steve Leung
$2,225.41

Christine Taylor
$3,943.71

Peter Balfe
$1,901.20

Clark Larcombe
$1,040.84

Graeme Bridle
$2,720.16

Jo Middleton
$6,670.60

Nick Bower
$2,129.85

Paul Gebhard
$4,056.79

Mat Moyle
$3,864.14

Graham Tiver

Well done Paul. Great reasons to get on the bike.