Riding for a reason

A GROUP of servicemen cycled to RAAF Base East Sale last week to raise money for brain cancer research.

Members of the 7th Signal Regiment, based in Toowoomba, visited the base as part of their 2300-kilometre ‘Round for Life’ cycling tour.

The fundraiser is being facilitated by Lieutenant Tate Waters, who is himself a member of the regiment.

According to Lt Waters, this is the second iteration of Round for Life, with the first having taken place in 2010.

“It was originally conducted in support of one of the hospitals in Toowoomba,” Lt Waters said.

“At the moment we’re riding for Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Kenny Leggett, who’s in Melbourne.

“A couple of years ago he got diagnosed with brain cancer, so we’re doing the ride this time down to Melbourne where he’s posted, and raising money for brain cancer along the way.”

The idea to ride to Melbourne came following a conversation between WO2 Andrew ‘Max’ Gillies and WO1 Chris Pleszkun, both friends of WO2 Leggett.

“Late last year, we came up with a concept that Kenny would love to do, if he was able to, for brain cancer research,” WO1 Pleszkun said.

“But he obviously couldn’t, so we decided (that) we’ll organise it and we’ll do it on his behalf.”

The initial Round for Life had participants, including WO2 Leggett, cycle from Toowoomba, following the New England Highway to Newcastle, travelling via Sydney and finishing in Canberra.

This year’s ride followed the same route, continuing on from the nation’s capital through the NSW coastal towns of Batemans Bay, Bermagui and Eden.

The longest leg of the journey came only a couple of days prior to arriving in Sale, with participants riding 134 kilometres from Cann River to Lakes Entrance.

“There’s been a lot of long days where the bodies have felt it,” WO1 Pleszkun said.

“The guys have been training for six-plus months now, but what we haven’t done is day-in, day-out, 100-km plus days, so that’s been the hardest part.”

Yet the journey has had its joys for the participants, with Lt Waters citing the community engagement as his favourite aspect of the fundraiser.

“This disease has really touched a lot of people, so being able to hear people share their stories when we say what we’re riding for has been amazing,” Lt Waters said.

He added the hospitality the regiment had encountered was outstanding.

“Some of the places we’ve been to, what they’ve done for us – whether it’s as simple as giving us a free coffee in the morning or giving us a place to stay for the night and dinner – (it) is awesome to see what the community’s done to get behind us,” he said.

The regiment stayed the night at the RAAF Base, before continuing on to Warragul the following day, and finally arriving at Simpson Barracks in Melbourne on Thursday evening.

As of their arrival in Sale, the regiment had raised $55,000 for brain cancer research, with a goal of reaching $100,000.

Anybody wanting to contribute to Round for Life can visit the official webpage for donations: curebraincancer.grassrootz.com/round-for-life-2022