South West Bike Trek Archives - Child Cancer Research Foundation

Join the bike ride that makes a difference

Published: August 5th, 2023

We’ve CHANGED things up! For 21 years, CCRF has run a 7-day ride from Perth to Augusta. We’ve now condensed it and made it a tad more challenging. Do you think you’d be up for it?

Let’s see if you have the heart to test yourself over four days of adventuring that will not only challenge you physically but also make a real difference in the lives of children battling cancer. Previously known as the South West Bike Trek – raising funds for childhood cancer research, we are proud to present our new updated bike trek, Cycle for a Cure.

This year’s home base is the stunning Fairbridge Village, located in the heart of WA. Get ready for an unforgettable ride through picturesque landscapes and some rugged terrain matched with awe-inspiring scenery. The new route will challenge you physically and mentally at times, but nothing compared to what our children deal with daily when they fight their cancers.

You’ll be joining a community of passionate and dedicated riders, all committed to raising funds for childhood cancer research. You will be making a meaningful impact on the lives of our children and help bring hope to those families facing the toughest battle of their lives. And when the ride is over, you’ll know that you’ve accomplished something truly remarkable.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up now and be a part of something special.

REGISTER NOW

Beat Child Cancer On Ya Bum!

Published: September 1st, 2022

Today, 1 September, marks the beginning of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In support of the 1000 children and adolescents that are diagnosed with cancer each year in Australia, we’re asking you to join us on our South West Bike Trek to help Beat Child Cancer On Ya Bum!

It is the 21^st year of the South West Bike Trek which sees a dedicated group of seasoned cyclists make the epic 600km journey from Perth to Augusta, from October 9-15.

Riders don’t have to participate in the ‘live’ ride from Perth to Augusta to be involved, now anyone can take part in the South West Bike Trek and help beat Child Cancer – simply sign up, log on and join the “virtual” ride anytime, from anywhere from September 1 – October 15.

Wherever you are in Australia, or indeed the world, and however far you want to push those pedals, whether it’s on an exercise bike at home or the gym, on your Sunday morning coffee club ride, your daily ride to work or on your unicycle for fun – every kilometre helps.

Form a team – get your workplace, gym or school involved, or challenge your family and friends – there’s many ways to get treadling to raise vital funds for research into childhood cancers. Your pedal power can make a massive difference in the lives of children living with cancer and their families.

Longterm CCRF Patron, Justin Langer is excited to be involved and join the bike ride that makes a difference. “I think the Beat Child Cancer on Ya Bum! initiative is such a fun way for families, corporates, and the public to get involved in fundraising for a cause,” said Justin.

“As Patron of the Child Cancer Research Foundation, it’s been my goal to help where I can and of course fitness always has my tick of approval. I know WA people will get behind this because we live in the best state in the world.”

Childhood cancer is the single greatest cause of death from disease in Australian children, with three children losing their lives to cancer every week. So, let’s saddle up and start a revolution in childhood cancer research. There are loads of prizes and incentives for fundraising, registration is FREE for the virtual ride, and signing up is simple.

All the information you need is on the website swbiketrek.com.au with explanations on how to register, create a profile for you or your team, share your challenge on socials to raise funds and link to tracking apps.

Let’s get riding and beat Child Cancer on Ya Bum!

Get ready to beat child cancer on ya bum!

Published: April 29th, 2022

Our South West Bike Trek is back for another year and we’re asking YOU to help us beat child cancer on ya bum!

This year will be the 21^st year of our live bike trek, where riders set out on a 600km journey through the beautiful South West region. The live South West Bike Trek has been the biggest fundraising event for CLCRF since its inception in 2002, raising over $810,000 for childhood cancer research.

The live event will begin on Sunday 9 October from Sir James Mitchell Park, South Perth Foreshore with riders traveling across some of the most spectacular roads in WA before winding up in Augusta on Saturday 15 October.

Last year, we also introduced a virtual element to our South West Bike Trek, encouraging people from all around the world to take part from wherever they are. We are thrilled to say the virtual ride is back again this year! Participants can clock up their bike ride in their own time and at their own pace, commencing their preferred distance from Thursday 1 September and completing their kms by Sunday 16 October, 2022.

Whether you are an experienced cyclist or just getting started, this event is a great way to get fit, have fun and raise funds for an important cause. The virtual event also offers the perfect opportunity to get your workplace or school involved.

It’s FREE to register for the virtual event, all that we ask is that you raise a minimum of $450 along the way. Register now to raise funds for research into childhood cancers and you can make a huge difference to the lives of children with cancer.

This year we are thrilled to offer some amazing fundraising rewards to help you reach your fundraising goals. Plus, if you register before 21 May, you will go into the draw to WIN our incredible Early Bird Prize, a stay at ibis Styles East Perth, thanks to Accor Hotels!

What are you waiting for? Register NOW for our live or virtual ride to beat child cancer on ya bum!

South West Bike Trek 2021

Published: November 18th, 2021

Our annual South West Bike Trek is over for another year, with riders finishing their 6-day and 600 kilometre journey on 16 October. This year, the bike trek also went virtual for the first time ever, with supporters riding at their own place, in their own time.

This year, the bike trek saw 21 live riders and a handful of virtual riders raise a total of $43,392! We thank everyone who participated to help us reach this incredible result.

Riders of the live event travelled through the beautiful South West region, passing Fairbridge, Preston, Harvey, Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River and Augusta. This event was once again organised by loyal CLCRF supporter Eric Maddock, with the help of his wife Annette.

“It’s over for another year and I think it all went well,” said Eric. “We met up with lots of good friends made over quite a few years. And once again, we’ve enjoyed raising awareness and funds for this great cause to help so many sick kids.”

The live riders experienced dreadful weather at the start of their journey, but they were not deterred. “On our second day, we had a shocker,” explained Eric. “Nobody was feeling great. But then I read a post from CLCRF about a poor little 8-year-old who lost his fight against leukaemia, and I remembered why we do this ride every year. We sat and cried.”

As always, there are many people and businesses that need to be thanked for helping our riders out along the way. A huge thank you to the following:

Binningup Seniors Club
Café Mooba
Jarra Infusion
The Beach Shak Café
Mr Barker Chicken
Coles Warnbro
IGA Shoalwater
Woolworths Greenfields
Smart Diet Solutions
Harvey Professional & Business Women
Scope Engineering
Swings and Roundabouts
Bunbury Toyota
Cornelia Ewald
Falcon Lions
Pinjarra Rotary
Waroona Lions
Harvey Rotary
Harvey Council
Harvey Primary School
South Bunbury Rotary
Eaton Scout Camp
Boyanup Lions
Busselton Rotary
Jurrian and Wendy at Camp Grace
Cowarramup Lions
Margaret River Rotary
Leeuwin Lions

“Without the help we get from all of these people, we could not do this,” expressed Eric. “So I must extend a huge thanks to each and every one of them and also to Annette Maddock and all the riders over the past 20 years; thank you guys and ladies for a great job.”

We thank Eric for his dedication and support. Year after year, Eric has led a safe and successful event, all for the love of the cause. “My hope is we will continue towards a goal of zero deaths from this terrible illness,” Eric expressed.

We look forward to another successful event in 2022.

Over $35,000 raised from the 2020 South West Bike Trek!

Published: November 27th, 2020

From October 11 to 17, the 18^th annual South West Bike Trek took place, organised once again by long-time CLCRF supporter Eric Maddock. The event saw 15 enthusiastic riders embarking on the 600km journey from Perth to Augusta to raise funds for childhood cancer research.

We are so thrilled to announce that over $35,000 was raised for the Foundation this year! This is an incredible achievement, considering the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduced peloton of 15.

CLCRF ride with BJR

Published: October 15th, 2020

Source: Brad Jones Racing – Thurs, 15 October 2020

Brad Jones Racing is proud to support the Children’s Leukaemia & Cancer Research Foundation at the Bathurst 1000.

CLCRF is a Western Australia charity that is close to both team owners, Brad and Kim Jones, hearts. BJR will carry the charity’s emblem on the B-Pillar of Nick Percat & Thomas Randle’s Supercar to raise awareness for this extraordinary charity.

It’s operation payback

Published: October 11th, 2020

Source: Sunday Times Newspaper – page 48

Riders pumped for 600km trek to aid cause

Published: October 5th, 2020

Source: Busselton Dunsborough Times – Mon, 5 October 2020 9:25AM
Author: Catherine MasseyBusselton Dunsborough Times

Determined bike riders are pumping up their tyres ahead of this month’s South West Bike Trek, a 600km journey between Perth and Augusta. The 15 riders will set off from South Perth Foreshore on October 11, with hopes of raising $40,000 for the Children’s Leukaemia and Cancer Research Foundation.

Trek co-ordinator and foundation member Eric Maddock has been involved in the event for the past 12 years after his great-niece was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of four. Mr Maddock said the treatment and support she received left him with an overwhelming sense of wanting to “pay it back”.

Australia has one of the highest occurrences of childhood cancer in the world, with 600 children diagnosed every year, and the trek has raised almost $700,000 for the foundation since its beginning 18 years ago. The trek is conducted at a leisurely pace, encouraging riders to work together to ensure each other’s wellbeing.

Foundation head Kylie Dalton said the foundation would have been heavily affected if the trek was cancelled this year.

“The trek is our biggest fundraising event each year. Having the community riders who get involved and do this type of ride, it means more than just the fundraising, it allows those riders to continue to share our stories along the way.”

Schools were encouraged to support the riders through gold-coin donation days, and event organisers have called on the public to “adopt a rider” to assist with fundraising efforts.

The nine-day trek will conclude in Augusta on October 17. To adopt a rider, visit swbiketrek.com.au.

South West Bike Trek 2020

Published: October 2nd, 2020

Source: 97.3 CoastFM – 2 October 2020

On Sunday 11th October, The South West Bike Trek begins in Perth and finishes in Augusta on Saturday, 17th October. The event will involve 15 mature aged riders, who will make the 600km trek to raise money for the Children’s Leukemia & Cancer Research Foundation (CLCRF).

The South West Bike Trek is the biggest purely volunteer run fundraising event for childhood cancer in WA and since it started in 2002, has raised close to $700,000 for CLCRF.

This year, organizers are calling for the public to “adopt a rider” in an effort to assist the fundraising efforts of the 15 incredible riders who have signed up for the challenge. Due to COVID-19 severely impacting the riders’ ability to fundraise, schools are also being encouraged to support riders by holding gold coin donation days.

It’s such a wonderful event that almost never happened this year due to COVID-19 and they’d love to get the word out about this incredibly important event.

There are a number of riders from Mandurah and surrounds involved in the trek as well!

The 2020 South West Bike Trek is expected to follow the below schedule:

Day 1 Sunday 11 October – South Perth to Fairbridge
Day 2 Monday 12 October – Fairbridge to Preston return
Day 3 Tuesday 13 October – Fairbridge to Harvey
Day 4 Wednesday 14 October – Harvey to Bunbury
Day 5 Thursday 15 October – Bunbury to Busselton
Day 6 Friday 16 October – Busselton to Margaret River
Day 7 Saturday 17 October – Margaret River to Augusta

For more information about the event, head to: https://swbiketrek.com.au/
To donate to and support a rider, head to: https://swbiketrek.com.au/support-riders/

Riders excited for 2020 trek

Published: September 30th, 2020

Source: Bunbury Mail – September 30 2020 – 10:29AM

WA’s premier charity bike ride is back for its 18th anniversary when 15 riders take to the road on October 11.

The trek will see the riders travel 600 kilometres from Perth to Augusta in the hope of raising $40,000 for the Children’s Leukaemia & Cancer Research Foundation (CLCRF). After cycling through some WA’s most spectacular roads the riders will finish in August on October 17.