Kingscliff High Principal Alan Tolley is one of twenty-five riders, three volunteers and three helicopter staff who set off on Saturday morning, October 8 from the Lismore Helibase on the Yellow Pages Hell on Wheels Cycle Tour.
Mr Tolley, a cycling enthusiast, will be on the road for a week.
However, he’s no stranger to long days on the road, taking part in several major events as well as a long cycling holiday in Europe earlier this year.
This is the 14th annual Cycle Tour and it has raised nearly $70,000 for the community rescue helicopter in that time.
Tour Director and founder of the event, Casino cyclist Tony Keogh, has ridden every one of the tour rides.
“I do it for the helicopter,” Tony said.
“It’s a fantastic service that costs nearly $6.5 million a year to run. We want to help keep it in the air!”
Four of this year’s riders have a strong motivation to take part in the ride. Ben Smith’s father was airlifted by the helicopter a few years ago following a trail bike accident and Nardeen Haydon, who has severe epilepsy, knows that she may one day need fast transport to hospital.
Then there are Darryl and Sue Harder, grandparents of Briar-Rose, the seven-year-old Lismore girl who broke a bone in her neck and was airlifted to Brisbane by the helicopter, potentially saving her life.
“If the helicopter hadn’t been here, she mightn’t be here,” Sue said.
As he gathered the riders together for the first leg Tony liaised with the support and safety vehicles, ensuring all was safe for the riders to cross the road as they departed the Lismore Helibase.
This year people can follow the riders and send messages via Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/hellonwheelscycletour or Twitter @helirescue
The 670km ride goes through back roads, bush tracks and up and down some challenging hills as the route runs through Urbenville, Tabulam, Copmanhurst, Maclean, Evans Head and Ballina before returning to the Lismore Helibase this Saturday, October 15.
People can donate to the riders along the route and at the nightly stopovers or by phoning the Helibase on 6627 4444, going online to www.helirescue.com.au or at their nearest Westpac Bank.
