FIVE Aboriginal students from Armidale High School have raised almost $1500 for this year’s Tour de Rocks and will also ride the 210-kilometre three-day cycling marathon to South West Rocks on Thursday.
New England Mutual (NEM) is donating their cycling pants and Town and Country Realty has paid their registration fees for the ride, which has attracted more than 400 local cyclists this year.
The boys Tyran Blair (16), Jayden Smith (16), Jeff Mills (13), John Quinlan (15) and Phillip Quinlan (14) all participate in the Clontarf program at AHS.
NEM’s Dane O’Connor, who recently benefitted from community support during his successful battle with cancer, has taken the boys under his wing.
“This ride is to raise money for cancer research and at a pre-race meeting for participants I was very touched to hear the kids had donated their performance money from a welcome ceremony at UNE, their touch football referee fees and had also raised $1,200 through events at the school,” he said.
James Russell, Clontarf director based at AHS said the boys had been in training for the last two weeks.
Bikes have been made available and the team have been riding 30 kilometres twice a week.
“They are going really well,” he said. “It’s a challenge as it’s their first big ride but I know they will feel a great sense of achievement when they finish.”
Mr Russell said 36 students were engaged in the Clontarf program which offers mentoring, sport activities and life skills support to remain at school to complete their education.
Since the program began almost 12 months ago, it has achieved an improvement in school attendance which is up to 80 per cent and good behaviour.
“The boys are happier, more willing to learn and wearing their school uniforms more often,” he said.
