Past Charity Challenges

YUNNAN -STH CHINA April 2008

"As an unnatural sporting person this was a definitely a challenge to change my bad habits. I made a commitment to join a gym and to try to become fit enough to do all of the bike ride.

The trip itself was wonderful. The Yunnan province was full of surprises and each day was special and had something different.

The first day of cycling was memorable for the lunch stop next to a Tibetan monastery and for surviving the long undulating hills. On the toughest day of cycling I was able to opt out of the tough hill climb, which I realistically knew I would struggle. This day we reached the peak altitude of 3,305 metres before descending on a 36km downhill ride into the valley.

We also crossed the Yangtze River with the help of local porters and ended the day cycling into Tiger Leaping Gorge. Memorable.

All up in 7 days I cycled just short of 400km. I could not achieve this without making a personal commitment, the encouragement of fellow cyclists, the professional staff on the ground and the way the bike trip was organised.

It is a wonderful concept to link a personal challenge in a culturally out of the way location with fundraising for a charity such as the Oncology Children's Foundation. I wish the Oncology Children's Foundation future success with these challenges and for a cure to childhood cancer."

John Cook

 

I only started back at work today and am feeling lost as I don't know where to start and strangely enough my thoughts are still in China.

I would like to take this chance to thank everyone for the wonderful experience, support and encouragement that you all showed me.

The trip to me was a great way to see a country that I hadn't been to before, to experience a different way to travel and to push myself to the limit. I have learnt from this trip that anything and everything is possible you just have to put your mind to it and whole heart into it. I have learnt to be patient and understanding, to be grateful for what I have. I  never thought that I would be able to do this but with the support and friendship that I have made on this trip I was able to do this and much more. 

When someone asks me "How was it" I can only say "It was great, people were wonderful and the scenery was beautiful". Because how do you tell someone all the feelings and emotions that you go through on this trip when they actually have to be there or have done it themselves. I can't talk to someone about it without getting a tear in my eye remembering how hard it was for me both physically and mentally. But in the same time the great joy and happiness that I felt when I had completed my journey. Next to having my 3 beautiful children and husband it was another amazing and powerful event in my life that I will cherish forever.

The work that the OCF does is outstanding. I can't praise you all enough for opening my eyes, my friends' eyes, my families and work colleagues' eyes, to the needs of children with cancer and what we can do to help raise funds for the research into this. Keep up the wonderful work as we all will too.

Sandra Tsangarliotis, Operations Manager, InShape Eastgardens

Here are some of Mike Howell's photos on flickr

VIETNAM 2007

For those participants that have returned and also for those yet to return, what an amazing trip the "Answer to Cancer" Cycle Challenge Vietnam Tour 2007 was. Just when you had thought of all the components that would be included within the challenge the weather conditions threw up another one and this certainly added to the overall experience.

After speaking with the guys from Intrepid, this is the very first time in 5 years of doing these style of trips that they have had to alter the route due to the conditions. Now there's a first.

But let's reflect a little on what we as individuals and as a group managed to achieve. It is very important to keep in mind that this trip took us to some of the remotest places in Vietnam where little has changed over many, many years.

I think it was fair to say that some of the participants were quite aware of what was in store cycling wise and some probably had little idea of what to expect. Once again this was before the weather played its hand.

We were blessed with our first afternoon of cycling through the beautiful, quiet villages of Mai Chau. This was exactly what your pre conceived perception of what Vietnam was all about. If we only knew what the weather had in store we could have enjoyed that afternoon's ride a little bit more.

Our first full day of cycling and straight into the lower mountain reaches and straight into cold, rainy weather. The hot lunch was a just reward for making it through to this stage. I think that this also set the scene for the many days ahead. Each individual was beginning to already realise what tenacity and determination that they were going to need to make it through the stages of this cycle trip.

Well what can be said about our second day of cycling heading towards Dien Bien Phu uphills, rain and mud yes mud and plenty of it. The strangest thing came over me while on this stage and I think came over a few people, the more difficult it got, and I mean it got real damn difficult the more determined we were to make it over this pass. The camaraderie and the team work were beginning to take shape as we all begun to look out for each other in an effort to ensure that everyone was a part of this team and if the team didn't succeed then no one succeeded. I think a real determining moment came at the top of this mountain, I mean close to the top where it dawned upon us that we could not go any further, the mud was so thick and we were confronted with a number of local Vietnamese bogged down in their trucks unable to move. Do not underestimate the result of what our efforts of helping some of these trucks get through that mud would mean to these individuals and their families. There was an air of disappointment at having not made it over this pass even though we almost welcomed the decision to turn back down the mountain. My experience told me that this group of people possessed a certain steel resolve that was going to show out on more than one occasion.

We were also now starting to see, which we did on many occasions, the culture shock of this country as we pictured first hand how hard the Vietnamese people work just to feed themselves the countless mothers and children with their babies strapped to their backs working in the fields, the families perched dangerously high on steep hillsides tilling their land and the heavy burdened weights being carried upon tiny shoulders.

The coming days brought similar weather conditions, exhausting climbs, exhilarating downhills (not too many) punctuated by one dry day where a morale boosting full day of cycling took place and was very well accepted and what an incredible day it was with most of the group rewarded with their initial 100km distance in a day. At this point in time I think that so many of us had already reached the stage where we had exceeded our own expectations as far as the cycling went. We had pushed ourselves outside of our comfort zones and ploughed through the many kilometres along spectacular scenery which was becoming so enchanting and just got better with each day.

However our biggest test was yet to come. We were fortunate or unfortunate, I'm not real sure still, that we were able to eyeball the monumental climb to the Tram Ton Pass and over to Sapa on a number of occasions prior to the last day of cycling. It looked very daunting and even the more experienced cyclist's exchanged grins and some doubts at the prospect of taking on this task. I am positive that there were many hours of sleep lost due to our minds playing games of uncertainty and failure and the thought of not completing the climb would mean that the devil would take over our souls.

What would the morning have in store for us? Would it finally turn in our favour and allow us a dry day in our attempt to battle the beast in front of us or would the conditions be that bad that maybe we wouldn't even have to attempt it. I think many had there fingers crossed for that one. Breakfast was quite subdued that morning; some nervous words were spoken but certainly not your typical breakfast fanfare. Well just as we were leaving to journey to the starting point the rain stopped and in was game on, it was going to happen. As we got closer to the bottom of the mountain there were many concerns about the distance that we were going to be subjected to in order to only maybe climb this damn mountain range in front of us.

Well the rain only stopped long enough for us to mount our bikes and start the peddles rotating but as the group bunched together I actually think that there was an air of confidence surrounding the team. The moment was fast approaching when we were going to answer some questions about ourselves, when we were going to test our own emotional and physical state, when we were going to find out if we could be comfortable doing something we had not thought possible, when we were to discover whether our determination and the inspiration of why we were really here, right here and now, could overcome the overwhelming task in front of us.

We at times stuck together, at times spread apart, teamed up into pairs and triples but at all times remained focussed on all members of the team and shouted encouragement whenever and wherever we could. This was not an individual thing; nothing was going to be gained by an individual making it to the top of that pass by themselves. If we were to be triumphant it was going to be as a group of 15 cyclists not as one. Sure individuals battles were going on inside of each one of us as we fought the emotional roller coaster and demons that were sent in to battle against us and we would be individually rewarded by our own achievements if we could reach the top but that paled into insignificance as this group had been through so much in such a small amount of time together that the group reward was the holy grail that we were chasing.

Well it's now history, every cyclist stood tall on top of that mountain and the jubilation, relief and satisfaction flowed freely. To reiterate my words at that very moment I am sure that everyone one of you could not think of a better place to be in the world then standing triumphant 2250 metres above sea level. (maybe in a hot bath somewhere).
We learnt so much about team dynamics, we learnt so much about ourselves, we learnt so much about what it meant to help other individuals, we learnt so much about another culture, we learnt so much about adversity and how we could overcome it. Sure we went through pain, we went through emotional torment, we laughed, we cried, we cheered, we gave ourselves a chance to live and we have also provided that chance to many young children suffering day to day.

You may never truly grasp the achievements that you made over the 12 day trip, but allow your legacy to those children be your reminder.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for not only being part of this wonderful experience, but for sharing your patience, your blood, sweat and tears, your generosity and kindness, your time, your love and your friendship. Together we make a difference.

To all of you out there who have so generously supported us, we have only just returned from our "Answer to Cancer" Cycle Challenge Sri Lanka Tour.
We covered approx. 500kms and at least 50% of this was steep mountain terrain.

SRI LANKA 2006

    

The following words were written by Judith Hayman, principal of Griffiths Public School about her trip to Sri Lanka

" Sadly I think there are very few people who have not had a relative or close friend suffer or die from cancer. The worst is seeing a child suffer with cancer however the strength and determination they have is amazing.

I taught an 11 year old girl who had a brain tumour and was in remission, she was always positive and determined. She was truly an inspiration. She has just completed year 10 and is working in child care. The tumour is still there and the chemotherapy and operations she has had has effected her growth and appearance but she still always has a positive outlook.

I am someone who has always enjoyed a challenge, you could say there is a competitive streak there but I am also a people person. As a child I was taught that in life if you begin something you should finish it and that life is not just about you it is about those around you.

I became involved in the challenge when I saw an advertisement. The ideas of adventure, meeting new people and getting fit were all appealing. When I saw that it was in support of the OCF I was really taken.

I do not work in the corporate world so was worried about raising what I saw as a large amount of money but decided that if I didn't raise enough money to go on the trip it wouldn't matter, whatever I managed to raise would be going to the OCF and if I was able to go on the trip then that was an added bonus! I was amazed at how easy it was to raise money...a few simple fundraisers and lots of family and friends, who thought I was mad, supported me and made generous donations. Suddenly I realised I had better jump on a bike and start training and buy the Lonely Planet to brush up on my knowledge of Sri Lanka!

I was a little nervous about going on a 10 day trip with a bunch of people who I had met once but soon discovered that although we were a diverse group of people sharing such a unique journey together made us a cohesive, strong group.

The next 10 days were many things that I had not expected. What an incredible way to see a country, on the back of a bike! The day that sticks in my mind the most was a 40km hill day, it was tough but I found my focus after listening to a motivational speech made by one of the group at the beginning of the day. We all had our reasons for taking part in the experience and I was constantly drawing on this to push myself to a point I never thought my mind and body could reach. That focus and having the support of the cyclists with me pushed me to complete the mountain climb. We were an emotional group at the end of that day and we definitely celebrated into the night, with a well deserved rest the next day. The remainder of the trip was an enjoyable cycle and I have some great photos taken along the road in Sri Lanka.

The best feeling of the trip is that I raised a large amount of money for a great charity, a much better feeling than handing the money over. I have also the satisfaction of introducing friends and family to a charity they had not been aware of. Also the satisfaction of knowing that the money will be spent to ease the suffering that children have to endure when being treated for cancer."

"THE ANSWER TO CANCER" CYCLE CHALLENGE, VIETNAM TOUR 2005, ONE HELL OF A RIDE

In 2005 the Oncology Children's Foundation embarked on a new fundraising initiative, a charity cycle challenge. The objective was to attract a group of individuals to register to join the challenge. Each individual had to raise at least $5000 to enable them to make the trip. On the 12th November a group of 24 people set off for Vietnam to cycle 550kms from Hanoi to Saigon. Ages ranged from 21 to 67 years old. 90% of participants were only novice cyclists. Six of the participants were from companies within the SSCP.
The dynamics of the group was clearly evident from the first time we saddled up on the bikes. The camaraderie and teamwork that existed to ensure that every cyclists completed each stage was amazing.
The outcome far exceeded everyone's expectations. Each individual has a story of why they participated and what motivated them to get through. I guess the moment that sums the trip up best would be the following;

 

Day 8

After 3 full days of cycling through sunshine, pouring rain, floodwaters everyone was mindful of the An Coh pass. This had been discussed the entire trip to date. The An Coh pass is a 7km winding climb up a mountain pass. It is all uphill, no level stages, quite steep and a vertical climb of 900 metres. Now that's enough to test anyone.

That morning we had travelled a distance by bus and I had noticed that the group were a bit flat and everyone seemed concerned at what lay ahead. I grabbed the microphone and related a story to them concerning one of the kids with cancer and how his parents had to decide whether to take him off life saving treatment so that he could at least have the opportunity to lead a normal life at home with his family for a short period of time, as he had been in hospital for treatment his entire life. This appeared to lift everyone who listened. By the time we hopped on our bikes to cycle the 20kms prior to the beginning of the pass we were as keen as mustard. However the reality of the climb took it's toll on every cyclist and it became not only a very physical exhausting climb but also a mental one. Riders began to wobble all over the road and peddling so slow that they were nearly at a stand still. Even though each individual encouraged each other as they either rode side by side or passed by it became a battle against yourself to make it as far up that mountain as you could.

Our bus parked at the 4km mark to allow anyone who could not continue to hop on and finish the trip a bit easier. Unfortunately we did not know this as when we saw the bus most thought that they had reached the summit only to be told there was another 3kms to go.

The final hairpin turn left a 400 metre gut wrenching, thigh burning battle to the summit and as each cyclist turned that final bend they were greeted with cheers of encouragement, clapping and shouting from the ones who had already conquered the pass. We were sure that at least half of the riders would turn up on the bus but as the 2 hour period went by, my wife Julie appeared around the turn, then another, then another, then 66 year old Phil Roberts, who was the epitome of determination. As each one completed the climb they were met with tears of joy but more so of mental and physical exhaustion, hugs all round as everyone embraced each other. Phil wobbled to a standstill as we made an arch for him to finish through, only to collapse as his legs gave way and couldn't stand any longer, luckily the doctor was on hand to monitor his condition and he was OK.

In total 21 of the 24 cyclists made it to the summit (3 others made it to the 4 km stage) and each one told of their individual battle to beat the "Pass". The driving motivation that everyone expressed was the exact reason that they had taken on this challenge, for the children with cancer and the desire to help them out.

I can honestly say at that moment tears flooded down my face and I was overcome with emotion and as the CEO of the Foundation I had not felt prouder in my entire life.